DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team battled with Loras College but fell 92-74 in its season opener Saturday evening in Dubuque, Iowa.
Loras started the game with a three-pointer that
Rysley Borman answered on the other end. Borman and
Carvin Fish scored early to try to keep pace with the Duhawks.
Kaden Pieper scored the next six points for UMM to pull the Cougars within three.
Truman DeGrange came off the bench and added two points for his first basket with Minnesota Morris.
Jack Boos followed with his first points in the Maroon and Gold. With under 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Loras extended its lead to double digits.
A three-pointer by DeGrange, followed by a Fish jump shot, made the score 34-24. A minute later, the Cougars pulled within single digits with another jumper from Fish. A three-pointer by Pieper and two made free throws by DeGrange cut the lead to seven. The deficit shrank to four after Pieper went on a five-point run. Boos scored the final points for UMM in the half as the Duhawks took a 46-38 lead into halftime.
Loras scored the first points of the second half to restore its 10-point advantage.
Jase Nelson got on the board by going 2-for-2 at the free-throw line. Borman followed with a layup to bring the deficit to six. The Duhawks began to gain separation after a three-pointer and a free throw extended their lead to 14. Pieper and Boos added to the Cougar scoring. Layups by Borman and
Ian Fahje brought UMM back within 10, but Loras soon extended its lead to 15 with five minutes remaining in the game.
Down the final stretch, Fish and DeGrange started to chip away at the lead. In the final four minutes, Fish added to the score with a layup. A three-pointer by the Duhawks, followed by made free throws, sealed the 92-74 win for Loras.
Fish and Pieper led the scoring with 19 points apiece. DeGrange and Borman followed with 12 points each in their first game with the Cougars. The team shot 55.6 percent from the field, with Fish going 9-for-10. Borman led the team with four assists.
Defensively,
Alexander Munson paced the team with seven rebounds, followed by Fish with six. The Cougars recorded five steals, with Pieper tallying two. Fish and Fahje each blocked two shots.
The Cougars have one more game in the Loras Tip-Off Tournament as they take on Bethel University at 1 p.m. Sunday.
