ELLENDALE, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team defeated Trinity Bible College 78-51 Tuesday night in Ellendale, N.D.
 
The Cougars have now won back-to-back games, improving to 2-4 as the Lions drop to 4-2.

"I thought this was our most complete game of the season," said associate coach Taylor Holleman. "Attention to detail, quick decisions, and intensity was fantasric. After five road games in seven days, we are looking forward to getting some practices in and having some home games!"
 
Carvin Fish opened the scoring with after grabbing an offensive rebound. Matt Thompson followed with a three-pointer and then blocked a three on the other end. After the Thompson triple, UMM scored the next 10 points, with Fish and Kaden Pieper contributing to the run. The Lions responded with three straight three-pointers to cut the lead to two, then took the lead with another triple. Pieper ended the rally with a reverse layup to put UMM back in front. Jang Dak extended the lead to five with his first points of the game. Johnny Tong grabbed an offensive rebound and found Pieper for an easy layup, forcing a TBC timeout.
 
Jase Nelson ended a nearly three-minute scoring drought for the Cougars by making a pair of free throws. Fish pushed the lead to double digits with a hook shot, and Thompson added another three-pointer. The lead grew to 17 after Nelson and Tong converted driving layups. Thompson stayed hot from deep, knocking down his third three of the game. Fish scored his 10th point of the half with three minutes remaining. LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks IV hit a three-pointer for the final points of the half, giving UMM a 45-19 lead.
 
Out of the break, Pieper hit a deep two for the first points of the second half and scored the Cougars' first five points. Thompson followed with his first three of the half. After a Lions basket, Thompson responded with a layup. Tong maintained the advantage with a putback. Ian Fahje made a free throw for his first point of the game midway through the half. Makhi Winters scored his first points of the season off a pass from Samuel Daho, and on the next possession, Alexander Munson scored his first collegiate points. Daho added a driving layup for his first points of the season. Down the stretch, Leul Samuel, Winters, and Munson added baskets to secure the 78-51 victory.
 
Thompson led UMM with 16 points, followed by Pieper with 15. Fish reached double figures with 12, rounding out the top three scorers. Thirteen different Cougars scored in the win.
 
Defensively, Thompson pulled down 13 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Nelson added 10 rebounds, and Dak chipped in eight. UMM totaled eight steals, with Dak recording two, and Thompson tallied both of the team's blocks.
 
The Cougars return home for a 7 p.m. matchup with Augsburg University on Friday.