MOORHEAD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team couldn't keep up with Concordia College (Minn.) on Wednesday night, falling to the Cobbers by a score of 80-53.

Kenny Placide took the lid off the basket, opening the scoring 90 seconds into the game to put Minnesota Morris ahead. The Cougars would hold the lead on four more occasions in the first seven minutes, including at 11-9 on a Jarrett Kujava three-pointer. The final lead was 13-11 on a pair of Gus Gunderson free throws, but Concordia held Minnesota Morris scoreless for the next four minutes while scoring 12 unanswered to take a 23-13 lead. Brian LaRoche, Jr. broke the slump for the Cougars and Blake Munson hit a three at the nine-minute mark of the first half to bring UMN Morris back within seven, 25-18.

Another long drought ensued for Minnesota Morris after that. More than four minutes elapsed before Munson connected again on a two-pointer to leave the score at 29-20. Concordia would find a rhythm offensively in the closing minutes of the half and take a 42-27 lead into the intermission.

Five straight points from Kujava early in the second half brought the Cougars to within 13, but they would get no closer from there. LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks connected on another triple at the seven-minute mark to make it 68-49. From that point on, Minnesota Morris would only make one more field goal as the Cobbers closed it out comfortably to get the victory.

Kujava and Staples-Fairbanks were the leading scorers for Minnesota Morris on the night with 10 points. Munson added nine. Ian Fahje was the leading rebounder with five, while Pal Dak notched a team-high three assists.

Minnesota Morris will look to even its record at 1-1 on Friday night when the Cougars travel to Ellendale, N.D. to face Trinity Bible College at 7 p.m.