MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball led the University of Wisconsin-Superior for about 37 minutes on Friday night, but a late surge from the Yellowjackets combined with a lid being put on the Cougar basket contributed to a game-ending 23-1 run from the visitors to shock UMN Morris, 70-59. The Cougars fall to 11-11 (5-6 UMAC) on the season with the loss.

Pal Dak and Gus Gunderson shouldered much of the scoring load in the first five minutes. After UW-Superior took a lead on its opening possession, Dak answered back to tie it and he added another three-pointer in a 9-0 run that was finished off by a twisting reverse layup from Brian LaRoche, Jr. After a steal and three-point play from Gunderson, the Yellowjackets took a timeout trailing, 15-5.

Minnesota Morris played from out in front the rest of the opening half. The Yellowjackets briefly cut their deficit to four on two occasions, but the Cougars ended the half on a 10-2 run and Dak made a circus shot from three-point range at the horn to make it 38-26 at the break. 

UW-Superior showed signs of life in the second half, but Minnesota Morris seemed to have the answer. When Kenny Placide converted back-to-back layups, the Cougars maintained a double-digit lead at 56-45 with less than seven minutes to play. As it turned out, those would be the final two made field goals of the game for UMN Morris. 

Two free throws from Dak kept the lead at 11 points with under six minutes to play. After UW-Superior scored four in a row, Ian Fahje was fouled and made one of two, putting Minnesota Morris on top, 59-51, with 4:43 to play. From there, an attacking Yellowjacket offense got to the line repeatedly down the stretch and fouled out Placide with 3:36 to go. A Reid Johnson triple gave UW-Superior a 60-59 lead with 2:51 to play, its first lead since the opening minute. The offensive woes only compounded down the stretch and the Yellowjackets scored eight of their last 10 points from the line to clinch it.

Dak finished the night with 15 points and Jarrett Kujava reached double-figures with 10. Both Gunderson and Placide added eight apiece.

Minnesota Morris will close out the home portion of the regular season tomorrow with a Senior Day matchup against Northland College beginning at 4:45 p.m.