BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team would have needed to be nearly perfect on Friday night in its matchup at Division I opponent South Dakota State University and a slow start doomed the Cougars in a 112-47 loss to the Jackrabbits. UMN Morris will carry a 4-6 overall record into the start of UMAC play next week.

South Dakota State opened the game on a 9-0 run as the Cougars committed some early turnovers that led to runouts for the Jackrabbits. Tath Dak put Minnesota Morris on the board by hitting one of two at the line and KJ Riley finally scored the first UMN Morris field goal at the 13:12 mark of the first half to make it a 13-3 game. A 12-0 run later in the half by SDSU was ended by another bucket from Riley, but by that point the Jackrabbit lead had been extended to 30-8. Though Dillon Haider began to heat up from beyond the arc as the half progressed, South Dakota State went to the break with a 56-23 lead.

Riley and Haider once again led the offense in the second half for the Cougars with six points apiece, but the Jackrabbits proved to be unstoppable. South Dakota State shot 22-of-37 (59.5%) from the floor in the second half, including 12-of-20 (60%) from beyond the arc, pulling away throughout the remainder of the game.

Haider finished with 14 points, going 4-of-8 from three-point range. Riley also reached double-figures with 12 points. Jaret Johnson tacked on seven points. Will McBee led the Cougars with six rebounds in the game, while James Pendleton dished four assists.

Minnesota Morris hosts back-to-back conference games at Jim Gremmels Court on Dec. 10 and 11. First up is a contest with North Central University on Friday night starting at 7:15 p.m.