ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team was unable to contain the explosive offense of the University of Northwestern on Friday night, falling to the Eagles by a score of 97-63. The loss sends the Cougars to 8-12 (3-6 UMAC), while Northwestern remains undefeated in UMAC play and in first place with a record of 15-5 (9-0).

Following a 5-0 opening to the game for the Northwestern, Minnesota Morris only ever got as close as three points the rest of the night. The Cougars did that on three occasions in the early going, twice on field goals from Jaret Johnson. After a number of 6-0 and 7-0 runs by the Eagles, UNW went up by as much as 22 points in the first half before UMN Morris scored the final five on a three-pointer from Dillon Haider and a jumper from Kobe Jenson that left the score at 49-32.

Baskets in the first minute of the second half from Tath Dak and Noah Kannegiesser capped a 9-0 run for Minnesota Morris and got the Cougars back to within 13 points, 49-36. Northwestern answered back with back-to-back three-pointers and soon had its advantage back over 20 points. The final minutes gave both teams the chance to empty their benches and the Northwestern lead climbed as high as 37 points towards the end prior to a late three-pointer from Maverick Conn.

Kannegiesser was the lone Cougar in double-figures, finishing with 16 points. Haider added nine, while both Johnson and Ian Carlin chipped in with eight points.

Minnesota Morris wraps up its road trip to the Twin Cities tomorrow with a 4:45 p.m. game at North Central University.