Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston used a big second half, out-scoring Minnesota Morris by 16 in an 81-61 victory on Monday night.
Minnesota Crookston improves to 2-12 on the season.
Minnesota Crookston would take an early 5-2 lead with buckets from Donez Lindsey (Fr., G, Stockton, Calif.) and Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb.).
The game would be tied at nine, but the Cougars would use the long ball to go on a 7-0 run and take a 16-9 lead before Spencer Swenson (Fr., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) would finish a tough layup in the paint. Swenson would go on a personal 6-0 run to cut the Cougar lead to just one.
UMM would once again take a seven point lead at the midway point of the half, but Lindsey would make the first three of the night for the Golden Eagles to cut the deficit to just four.
Minnesota Crookston would go on a 12-2 run towards the end of the half to take a six point lead into the break.
Early on in the second half, UMM would get back within one, but Chandler Meeks (R-Jr., G, Omaha, Neb.), who would play in his first game in nearly a calendar year, would help the Golden Eagles to start to extend the lead.
Meeks would score four straight points to get the Golden Eagles up by double-figures for the first time at 61-50.
Leading by 14 with seven minutes left in the game, Brady Westphal (Fr., G, Fargo, N.D.) would enter the fray and put the game on ice with back-to-back three-point makes. Westphal would finish with nine points in the game.
Minnesota Crookston would get the 81-61 win.
Minnesota Crookston finished with four players in double-figures, led by Mukoma, Jr. and his 15 points, six rebound performance. Swenson and Meeks added 13 and 12 off the bench, respectively. Westphal and Caiden Swenby (So., G, Fertile, Minn.) combined for 16 points, also off the bench.
The Golden Eagles finished with 19 second chance points and finished with 43 bench points, which is a season-high.
Minnesota Crookston will re-enter conference play on Friday on the road at Winona State. Tip-off is set for 5:30 PM.
