MORRIS, Minn. – The undefeated start to UMAC play for the Minnesota Morris men's basketball team came to a close on Friday night as Northland College walked away from James Gremmels Court with a 75-71 victory. The LumberJacks moved to 4-11 (2-2 UMAC) with the win, while the Cougars slide to 7-5 (3-1 UMAC).

Three-point shooting provided one of the major differences in the contest, particularly in the second half. Northland made 12 three-pointers on the night, including an 8-for-12 effort after halftime. In contrast, Minnesota Morris was just 2-of-21 behind the arc and was 0-for-9 from distance in the second half as the LumberJacks completed a comeback from eight points down. 

Northland began the game on a 7-0 run as it took nearly three minutes before Blake Munson got Minnesota Morris on the board. The LumberJacks extended to a 20-12 lead – their largest of the night – with just over eight minutes gone before the Cougars began to claw their way back in it. In a four-minute span midway through the half, UMN Morris used an 11-2 run to come back and take the lead at 28-26. Noah Kannegiesser scored seven of the 11 in that stretch for the Cougars. After Northland tied the game at 28-28, the Minnesota Morris defense did not allow a point for the final four minutes of the half and went to the break holding a 36-28 edge.

Like in the first half, Northland began the second half on a 7-0 run and quickly cut the Cougar advantage down to one with just two minutes gone. For more than eight minutes that followed, neither team led by more than a single possession and the game featured several ties and lead changes. Tarik Iyob appeared to briefly swing the game in favor of the Cougars as he scored to give the home side a 56-51 lead and then followed with a three-point play to push the lead to 59-53 with 7:26 remaining.

A four-point possession from Northland soon after was part of a 9-0 run to give the LumberJacks a 62-59 lead with six minutes to play. Though the game remained close and Minnesota Morris pulled within a single point on four occasions, the Cougars were unable to catch up. The dagger for Northland came in the final 10 seconds as Langston Flowers knocked down a triple late in the shot clock after the Cougars elected to play defense, hoping for a stop and a chance to win the game on the other end. Down by four, a pair of desperation shots from Kannegiesser were off the mark and the LumberJacks emerged with the win.

Kannegiesser led all scorers in the game with 22 points. Kenny Placide was a force down low, coming off the bench for 20 points and six rebounds. Corbyn Alexander led Minnesota Morris in two other categories with seven rebounds and five assists.

Minnesota Morris is back at it tomorrow afternoon with a 3 p.m. home contest against the University of Wisconsin-Superior.