MORRIS, Minn. - With the season on the line for both teams, the University of Minnesota Morris Cougars and the University of Northwestern Eagles faced off in game one of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference tournament. The Eagles would come away with the win, defeating the Cougars 87-77 to advance to the tournament championship game and end the season for Minnesota Morris.

Northwestern built up an early lead over Minnesota Morris, setting a fast and competitive pace for the game. The Cougars found their momentum with 13:30 left on the clock as Ian Fahje and Brian LaRoche Jr. put layups in the net to give the home team a one point advantage. The Eagles were quick to respond, and kept things to within five points. An 8-0 run late in the half pushed Northwestern to a significant lead, which they held onto and ended the half leading 40-32. 

Minnesota Morris struggled to gain momentum coming out of halftime as the Eagles went on a 10-3 run to open up the second half. A layup and two three pointers from Pal Dak sparked the Cougars' fire as they brought the game to within eight. Thomas Tiernan put up a three point play and Carvin Fish scored a bucket in the paint to put Minnesota Morris within striking distance at 55-60. As the clock ticked down, the two teams battled back and forth for possession, but it was the Eagles who eventually pulled out a victory with a 10 point lead over the Cougars. 

Dak led Minnesota Morris in scoring, dropping 16 on the night and pulling in five rebounds. Dom Aguilar posted 14 points of his own, while Fish came close to a double-double with 12 points and 8 rebounds on the night.