MAYVILLE, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team valiantly fought back from a steep deficit, only to run out of time in a 94-85 loss to Mayville State University on Tuesday night. The Cougars drop to 3-4 with the defeat.

Mayville State led start to finish, scoring the first five points of the contest before Ian Carlin put the Cougars on the board. With the score 14-9 after a short jumper from Jaret Johnson, the Comets scored eight in a row to take a 22-9 edge with just over nine minutes remaining in the opening half. Mayville State increased its cushion to as much as 22 before halftime, settling for a 45-27 lead at the break following a layup from Will McBee in the final minute.

A three-pointer from Jamison Kramer gave Mayville State a 70-44 lead with 13:26 to play in the contest. Over the next seven minutes, Minnesota Morris would embark on a 32-11 stretch to pull to within five, 81-76, on a three from Noah Kannegiesser. The junior guard had 14 of his 18 points in that stretch and Johnson added a pair of three-balls as well.

The Cougars had a chance to pull even closer, but Dillon Haider missed a pair of free throws and Mayville State converted on the other end to go back up by seven. Haider was later fouled on a three and made all of his free throws, but Minnesota Morris would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Carlin led UMN Morris with 19 points on the night. Pal Dak added 11 points. Off the bench, the duo of  Kannegiesser and Johnson had 18 and 13 respectively, combining for seven of the eight Cougar triples in the game.

Minnesota Morris is back in action on Nov. 29 in Marshall, Minn., taking on Southwest Minnesota State University at 7 p.m.