MAYVILLE, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team built a 15-point lead late in the first half but saw Mayville State University rally for an 85-84 win on Tuesday. The Cougars slip to 2-3 with the loss. 

On a night in which the Cougars shot better than 65 percent from the field in the first half and nearly 58 percent as a team for the game, it was the 27 points Mayville State scored off 18 Minnesota Morris turnovers that proved to be the difference for the Comets. 

Minnesota Morris was on fire from behind the arc in the first half, canning 10-of-14 triples as a team. Jaret Johnson, Pal Dak, Blake Munson, Noah Kannegiesser, and Jarrett Kujava all had at least one apiece as the Cougars built a 20-12 lead and forced a Mayville State timeout with seven minutes gone. After the Comets cut their deficit back to one with a 7-0 run, Minnesota Morris responded with a 12-0 run that included three-pointers from Munson and Tarik Iyob.

Mayville State kept fighting and pulled within six with less than three minutes to go until halftime, but a 9-0 run from the Cougars gave them their largest lead of the night, 52-37. The Comets scored just before the half to make it 52-39 at the break.

The Comets went on an 11-0 run early in the second half and pulled within four at 54-50. The Minnesota Morris lead vacillated between three and eight points for much of the second half, with the Cougars refusing to let Mayville State pull even. A short Kenny Placide jumper with 90 seconds left put UMN Morris back up by three, 84-81, but would turn out to be the final Cougar basket of the night.

With less than a minute to go, Mayville State dialed up the pressure and turned a Minnesota Morris turnover into a layup to get within one. Following a Cougar timeout, another turnover led to another runout and the first Comet lead since 2-0. After Minnesota Morris unsuccessfully tried to get the lead back with less than 10 seconds left, a pair of missed free throws kept the door open for the Cougars. However, a final look just inside the half-court line caromed off the backboard and allowed Mayville State to survive.

Kannegiesser finished with team highs of 18 points and five assists. Johnson had 17 points before fouling out in the final seconds. Placide had 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while Dak also added 12.

Minnesota Morris plays one final road game to wrap up November before making its home debut on Dec. 1. Prior to that game at James Gremmels Court, the Cougars will square off with Augsburg University in Minneapolis on Nov. 28 starting at 7 p.m.