WAVERLY, Iowa – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team lost to Cornell College, 71-56, in the opening contest of the Buzz Levick Tournament, hosted by Wartburg College. The Cougars drop to 2-2 on the season.

Jarrett Kujava opened the scoring with a three-pointer in the opening 20 seconds of the game and he added another inside of three minutes. Pal Dak then warmed up from beyond the arc and accounted for the next nine Cougar points, bringing the team to within three at 18-15.

Cornell answered back with a 16-0 run over seven minutes to take a commanding 34-15 lead on the Cougars. Kujava broke the scoreless streak for Minnesota Morris with his third trey of the night, but the Rams went to the break up by a score of 38-22.

Some other Minnesota Morris players began to get things to fall as the second half opened before Dak accounted for seven straight to pull the Cougars to within 43-33. A Brian LaRoche, Jr. and-one layup brought UMN Morris back within six, 46-40, at the 11-minute mark, but the Rams answered with a three down on the other end and that six-point margin would ultimately turn out to be the closest the Cougars would get the rest of the night. 

Dak led all players in scoring with 19 on the night. Kujava was next up for the Cougars with nine. Kenny Placide snared a game-high nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

Minnesota Morris wraps up the Buzz Levick Tournament by playing the hosts, Wartburg, tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.