Courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID

MEN’S BASKETBALL

NEW ULM — On a day when MLC honored the 1999-00 Knights’ men’s basketball team that made it to the NAIA tournament, former Athletic Director Jim Unke, and Nate Miller, Seth Veers, and Elijah Schoof for Senior Day, the present-day MLC men’s basketball team played another down-to-the-wire contest against a conference opponent. The Knights outplayed Minnesota Morris throughout the entirety of the game in a packed and amped-up LSC gymnasium. Still, MLC was unable to close out the Cougars, who battled back to defeat MLC in the final seconds of regulation 86-85.

MLC took an 84-80 lead with 1:20 left, but the Cougars knocked down their free throws while the Knights missed a few down the stretch. A Pal Dak old-fashioned 3-point play ultimately did the Knights in as the senior guard for Minnesota Morris made it 86-85 with his made free throw attempt. MLC had the ball with six seconds remaining following that devastating blow, but Benjamin Vasold was unable to hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Free throw shooting played a big part in the outcome of this game as Minnesota Morris made 90 percent of their attempts, while MLC made 58 percent. MLC had a six-point lead at halftime (40-34) and went up by as many as 11 midway through the second half, but Dak never let the Cougars out of the game, going off for 38 points on almost 50 percent shooting.

Adam Loberger led MLC with a double-double effort of 22 points and 12 rebounds and did what he could to give the Knights their third UMAC win. Benjamin Pearson also played a significant role at point guard once again for MLC, finishing with a double-double of his own (12 points, 10 rebounds). Vasold totaled 13 points, while Ethan Kjenstad made some nice plays in the second half to give the Knights a shot at a win, as the junior had 10 points.

MLC (7-16, 2-10) will have two games left on the schedule this season, and up next is a road game at North Central on Wednesday, February 19, at 5:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

NEW ULM — The Martin Luther College women’s basketball team played their final home game of the 2024-25 season on Saturday, and with that honored three seniors (Emma Dorn, Lauren Paulsen, and Grace Kieselhorst) for their hard work and commitment while wearing a Knights’ uniform. MLC would then take on Minnesota Morris for a second time this season as the Knights beat the Cougars 61-55 at their place in early January. On Saturday, MLC would not get the same result as Minnesota Morris tallied off a 27-point fourth quarter to get by MLC 69-60.

The first quarter was tightly played and the Knights made four 3-pointers to allow them to take an 18-14 lead after the first 10 minutes. MLC then made it 36-29 heading into halftime after Lydia Feidt scored for the Knights.

From there, the Cougars dialed up their defensive pressure and intensity and made it hard for MLC to get efficient shots off in the second half, holding the Knights to only six field goals in the next 20 minutes of game time

The Cougars gained their first lead of the second half fairly quickly in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter after going on a 12-0 run. MLC would stay in it with a couple of 3-pointers made by Mya Morris and Paulsen, but an Anna Myers outside shot made it 63-57 with just over the one-minute mark and Minnesota Morris pulled out a victory for the season split with MLC.

Maddy Grove paced the Cougars with 29 points, while Claire Stark had a near double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Mya Morris put up 21 points and also gathered three steals defensively for MLC. Dorn notched another double-double performance with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Kieselhorst made 10 points and recorded two steals.

With the loss, MLC (14-9, 7-5) now moves to fifth in the UMAC standings, while Minnesota Morris now goes to fourth. The Knights still have a chance at the UMAC tournament as they travel to North Central for a 7:15 tip on Wednesday, February 19.