STORM LAKE, Iowa – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team dropped its final game of the Central Bank Classic, falling 83-73 to host Buena Vista University on Saturday evening in Storm Lake, Iowa.
 
Kaden Pieper opened the scoring with a jumper, followed by a three-pointer from Jase Nelson. The Beavers answered with a three of their own, but Matt Thompson pushed the Cougar lead back to four with a layup. UMM maintained its early advantage as Pieper added points at the free-throw line and knocked down another jumper. He then gave the Cougars their largest lead with a three-pointer, and Thompson extended it to double digits with another shot from deep. Gustav Gunderson added UMM's fourth three-pointer in the first six minutes.
 
After four points from BVU, LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks IV connected from long range to restore an 11-point cushion. The Beavers responded with an eight-point run before Staples-Fairbanks ended it with another three. BVU closed the half on a 13-0 run to take its first lead and go up 37-28. Carvin Fish ended the scoring drought with two free throws, then scored the next six Cougar points to match the Beavers' output, sending the teams to halftime with BVU ahead 43-36.
 
Fish carried that momentum into the second half with the opening basket. After trailing by seven, Fish sparked a Cougar run with another jumper. Pieper added two free throws, and Thompson tied the game at 51-51. Thompson then grabbed an offensive board and scored to give UMM the lead. Thomas Tiernan extended the advantage to five with his first three-pointer of the game, capping a 12-point run.
 
Buena Vista regained control in the final 11 minutes with a three-pointer, then pushed the lead back into double digits three minutes later. Pieper ended the drought at the line, but BVU maintained a comfortable advantage down the stretch and secured the 83-73 victory.
 
Fish led the Cougars with 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Pieper and Thompson followed with 16 and 14 points, respectively. UMM hit eight three-pointers in the contest, with Staples-Fairbanks and Thompson each recording two. Gunderson and Pieper shared the team lead with three assists.
 
Defensively, Fish grabbed a team-high six rebounds, while Thompson added five. The Cougars tallied four steals—two each from Pieper and Staples-Fairbanks—and Fish recorded two of the team's three blocks.
 
Minnesota Morris continues its road trip to Bemidji, Minn., for a matchup with Oak Hills Christian College on Monday at 6:30 p.m.