DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Minnesota Morris men's basketball team earned its first win of the season with an 84-81 victory over Bethel University on Sunday afternoon in Dubuque, Iowa.
Carvin Fish led the Cougars with 34 points.
Bethel jumped out to an early 18-5 lead. Fish,
Jack Boos, and
Jase Nelson scored for the Cougars during that stretch. Minnesota Morris started to chip away at the lead with a jump shot from
Rysley Borman and a three-point play from
Ian Fahje.
Alexander Munson cut the lead to single digits with a layup midway through the half. A minute later, the Royals pushed their lead to 15. UMM responded with a six-point run featuring a jumper and free throw from Fish and a three-pointer from
Tyson Grove. The Cougars finished the half on an eight-point run with baskets from Fish, Boos, and Borman to make the score 45-38 heading into halftime.
The Cougars quickly tied the game in the second half with a layup from Boos followed by a three-pointer from Borman. A driving layup from
Kaden Pieper gave the Cougars their first lead of the game at 46-45. The lead continued to grow after a six-point UMM run capped off by a Pieper dunk. The Cougars extended their lead to 10 after a Fish layup. The Royals started to chip away at the lead, cutting it to 64-60 with under six minutes remaining. Fish and Pieper added to the Cougar scoring to fend off the rallying Royals. Boos pushed the lead back to seven with a made three-pointer. In the final three minutes, Bethel tied the game, and both teams traded baskets. The game was tied at 81-81 with 20 seconds remaining. Pieper brought the ball up the court and found
Truman DeGrange in the corner, where he knocked down the game-winning three-pointer to secure the 84-81 victory.
Fish led all UMM scorers with 34 points while shooting 13-of-16 from the field, 1-of-1 from three-point range, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Pieper followed with 18 points, while Boos and Borman also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, UMM shot 59.6 percent from the field, 35 percent from three-point range, and 68.2 percent from the free-throw line. Nelson recorded a team-high four assists.
Defensively, Fish recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Pieper added three steals, and Fahje recorded all three of the Cougars' blocks.
The Cougars continue their road trip at Concordia College on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
