MORRIS, Minn. – Just like the temperatures here in the area, the University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team was heating up on Saturday, canning 16 three-pointers and shocking the reigning UMAC Tournament champions, Bethany Lutheran College. Behind a career-high 31 points from Dillon Haider, the Cougars pummeled the Vikings by a score of 115-86, improving to 2-4 on the year.

The first half was close throughout, but the pendulum seemed to swing in Bethany Lutheran's favor when a 6-0 run gave the Vikings their largest lead of the game, 40-32, with just over five minutes remaining until halftime. UMN Morris was undeterred, quickly wiping out the deficit and taking the lead back on a Kenneth Riley layup just over two minutes later. Two baskets from Dillon Haider down the stretch took the Cougars into the break with a 52-48 edge.

Bethany Lutheran cut that lead in half twice in the opening minute of the second half, but with the score 55-53, Corbyn Alexander supplied UMN Morris with eight points in an 11-0 run that pushed the lead into double-digits. After the Vikings ended the run, Haider immediately got in on the act with consecutive threes to make it 72-55.

On two occasions, Bethany Lutheran was able to get within 12, but Minnesota Morris had everything dropping on Saturday. With 12 of the 13 players to enter the contest contributing to the point total, the lead swelled to 33 points in the final two minutes. 

In addition to shooting 64 percent from three-point range on the day, Minnesota Morris also made 29-of-34 free throws. Haider led six players in double-figures. Will McBee came off the bench for 17 points. Outside of Haider, the rest of the starting lineup also scored at least 10 points apiece. Jaret Johnson had 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting, Alexander ended with 11, and both Riley and Ian Carlin scored 10 points.

The Cougars are back home on Monday night, hosting Martin Luther College at 7 p.m.