MORRIS, Minn. – One game after setting a school record for made three-pointers in a game, the University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team fell victim to a North Central University team that heated up from behind the arc in the second half to down the Cougars, 79-71. The loss sends UMN Morris to 8-8 (3-3 UMAC) on the season.

North Central jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of the contest and eventually saw its lead soar to 22-9 on a Nik Fuller triple at the midway point of the first half. Pal Dak and Jarrett Kujava knocked down three-pointers to help spark a comeback and a Kujava jumper just before the first-half buzzer brought Minnesota Morris back to within two, 37-35.

Kujava gave Minnesota Morris its first lead on the opening possession of the second half and he and Dak then each knocked down another as the Cougars took their largest lead of the game, 44-40, with 17:51 to play. The lead would prove to be short-lived as North Central suddenly heated up from distance, scoring its next 21 points on seven three-pointers and going back up, 61-51.

Minnesota Morris continued to fight to stay in it and another Kujava three-pointer brought the Cougars back to within four, 75-71, with 1:04 to go. Out of a timeout, the Rams went over the top to break a full-court press from the UMN Morris defense and converted a layup. A couple of empty possessions later, two free throws sealed the eight-point win for NCU.

Kujava finished with a game-high 24 points and Dak had 18. Gus Gunderson had nine points and five assists, while Blake Munson added a game-high six assists.

The Cougars finish the weekend off with a 4:45 p.m. matchup against the University of Northwestern tomorrow at James Gremmels Court.