MORRIS, Minn. - The Cougars earned their seventh win in eight tries as they topped Northland, 86-70, Saturday afternoon in UMAC men's basketball action at Jim Gremmels Court.

The victory moved the Cougars into a first place tie with Bethany Lutheran atop the UMAC standings with a 6-1 conference mark.

After a tight first ten minutes of the contest, the Cougars began pulling away and built a double-digit advantage. Leading 20-18, Noah Grove scored six unanswered to start a 16-2 UMM spurt that gave them a 36-20 lead with 3:38 remaining in the half. Grove scored four more points in the run with CD Douglas adding four points as well. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes as the Cougars took a 44-30 lead going into the break.

The Cougars were not threatened in the second half as they maintained their double-digit lead throughout and would build their lead to as high as 23 points.

Grove led all scorers with 25 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the floor. Douglas had his fourth straight 20-point effort with 21. Jeffrey Halverson had a great all-around effort with nine points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Minnesota Morris (7-8, 6-1 in UMAC) travels to St. Paul to face Northwestern Wednesday night.