New Ulm, MN - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team gave a hard-nosed effort in their conference game with the Minnesota Morris Cougars, but Pal Dak led all scorers with 26 points and made the difference in this one as the Cougars defeated the Knights 70-67.

The Knights fell to Minnesota Morris 104-59 on January 13, but faired much better with the Cougars this go around and limited them to just 31 percent shooting from the outside, compared to Morris' 60 percent shooting in the previous matchup.

Trey Lauber started the game on a high note and hit a couple of 3-pointers in rhythm to keep pace with the Cougars. In the first half, there were nine lead changes and eight ties, as the biggest lead of the half came when the Knights went up five points (14-9) with 14:39 remaining. 

Dak changed the course of momentum a bit when he made an off-balanced layup near the rim. The guard then followed that play up with a steal at half court and turned it into a breakaway layup. Those two plays gave Minnesota Morris a 37-33 edge at the break.

In the second half, MLC began things with a 9-0 run off of nice ball movement in the half court. The Cougars quickly answered back with an 8-0 scoring run themselves to retake the lead.

Both squads did more of the same with back and forth lead changes, but Minnesota Morris benefited from some early foul trouble by the Knights and cashed in on some one-in-one bonus opportunities.

With 7:10 remaining, the Cougars grabbed their biggest lead of the game up 60-50, but the Knights had a final rebuttal and went on a 10-2 run that was highlighted by an Ethan Kjenstad 3-pointer from the top of the key and a Thomas Balge "and-one" layup in transition. Following those plays, the Knights were only down 62-60 and still had a chance at a comeback.

Dak had six points in the final minutes of action and helped the Cougars take a 68-65 lead with 41 seconds remaining. Balge had a shot near the basket to cut the deficit back to one point, but the ball bounced out with 21 seconds left and Minnesota Morris went on their way to win the game.

MLC had the advantage in the paint, outscoring the Cougars 24-14, but Minnesota Morris outscored the Knights 20-5 in fastbreak points. The Knights shot 39.44 percent from the field (26-66).

Balge paced the Knights with 15 points and three steals, while Lauber and Seth Veers finished with 14 points apiece.

MLC goes to 4-16 overall and 2-7 in UMAC play, while Minnesota Morris improves to 11-9 overall and 5-4 in conference.

The Knights go on to face Crown on Saturday, February 3, for Parents' Day. The game begins at 4:45 p.m. following the women's matchup.