ABERDEEN, S.D. – The balanced scoring output from the University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team wasn't enough to keep up with Presentation College on Tuesday night in a 71-60 loss to the Saints. The loss drops the Cougars to 1-2 on the season.

After falling behind 6-2, Minnesota Morris took its largest lead at 12-6 with a 10-0 run capped off by three-pointers from Blake Munson and Jarrett Kujava. Thomas Tiernan later hit a three to put the Cougars ahead, 17-15, and the final tie of the game came at 19-19 on a bucket from Pal Dak. 

Over a six-minute stretch, Presentation grew its lead to nine points, 32-23, and it took a solid finish to the half from UMN Morris to go into the break trailing by just five, 36-31.

Presentation opened the second half with five straight points to grab its first double-digit lead before Dak got Minnesota Morris back within eight. The Saints took their largest lead of 15 points at the 12-minute mark before the Cougars began to whittle it away. Kenny Placide twice hit shots to get Minnesota Morris within six, the last time coming at 56-50 as the clock rolled under seven minutes to play. 

At the two-minute mark of the half, Ian Carlin converted a three-point play to make it 67-60, but Presentation would hold the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way to hold on for the victory.

Minnesota Morris had no one finish with double figures in points, but did have two with nine points, two with eight, and two more with seven. Carlin and Jaret Johnson had nine points on the night to lead the offense. Dak and Kujava finished with eight. Munson and Placide added seven apiece. Corbyn Alexander posted a game-high nine rebounds.

Next up for Minnesota Morris is a trip to Bemidji State University on Friday night. The game with the Division II foe will count on the official record of the Beavers but will be an exhibition contest for the Cougars. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.