Latest news with #CreightonMorisch
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USF men fall to Minot State in season finale
MINOT, N.D. (USF) – The Sioux Falls Cougars saw their season come to a close Wednesday night, falling to Minot State 81-56 in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament. Despite the loss, USF showcased resilience throughout the season, finishing with a 16-13 overall record while displaying growth and determination. Sioux Falls kept pace early, taking a brief lead in the first five minutes, but Minot State responded with a decisive run that gave them control. USF struggled offensively, shooting 39.3% (11-of-28) from the field and 28.6% (2-of-7) from three-point range in the opening half. Taylen Ashley led the early scoring effort with 14 first-half points, attacking the rim and knocking down a pair of outside shots. Minot State capitalized on second-chance points and forced key turnovers, building a 46-25 lead at halftime. Creighton Morisch grabbed 10 first-half rebounds to help keep the Cougars in the fight, but USF struggled to convert opportunities on offense. The Cougars came out with energy in the second half, opening with a 7-25-0 run, but Minot State remained efficient, keeping USF from cutting too deeply into the deficit. Noah Puetz and Shawn Warrior chipped in offensively, while Brandon Hrncir provided some offense. USF struggled from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes, shooting just 9.1% (1-of-11) from three, limiting their ability to mount a comeback. Minot State extended their lead behind hot shooting and capitalized on USF turnovers, closing out the game and ending the Cougars' season. Shooting Struggles: USF finished 21-of-55 (38.2%) from the field and just 3-of-18 (16.7%) from three. Rebounding Edge: The Cougars grabbed 38 rebounds, led by Morisch's 11 boards. Points in the Paint: USF scored 28 points inside, but Minot State had the advantage with 42 paint points. Turnovers Costly: Minot State turned 17 USF turnovers into 32 points, making the difference in the game. Taylen Ashley: Led USF in scoring with 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, attacking the defense consistently. Creighton Morisch: Finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block, notching a double-double in the final game of the season. Noah Puetz: Contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds, hitting all four of his free-throw attempts. Shawn Warrior: Added 9 points and 2 rebounds, making plays inside. Despite the tough ending, the Cougars showed fight all season long and now look ahead to building for next year. With young talent gaining experience and key players developing, USF will aim to take another step forward in the 2025-26 campaign. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cougars Catch Fire from Deep, Close Regular Season with 82-75 Win Over UMary
BISMARCK, N.D. (USF) – The Sioux Falls Cougars (16-12, 12-10 NSIC) finished the regular season on a high note, defeating UMary (5-26, 3-19) 82-75 on the road. Kyle Ingwerson led all scorers with 23 points, hitting seven three-pointers, while Creighton Morisch added 16 points and 12 rebounds to help USF secure its fourth straight win. The Cougars will now turn their attention to the NSIC Tournament, with their opening-round matchup set for Wednesday against Minot State at 6:00pm in Minot, N.D. Sioux Falls started strong offensively, shooting 42.4% from the field and knocking down eight three-pointers in the opening period. Ingwerson was in rhythm early, connecting on three of his six three-point attempts before halftime. Kenji Scales provided a strong offensive showing, giving the Cougars 8 first half points. UMary kept things close with efficient free-throw shooting, hitting 10-of-10 from the line in the first half, and also hitting 8 three's to match the Cougars. USF took control in the second half with a 10-2 scoring run, fueled by Ingwerson's shooting and Morisch's dominance inside. The Cougars shot 43.3% from the field and 41.7% from three after halftime, keeping UMary from mounting a comeback. Late in the game, Taylen Ashley hit a clutch three pointer that gave the Cougars a 3-point lead that they would hold onto. The Cougars' defense tightened up in the second half, limiting UMary to just 30.8% shooting from three. Balanced Offense: USF shot 42.9% (27-of-63) from the field and 43.3% (13-of-30) from three. Ball Movement: USF finished with 18 assists on 27 made field goals. Free Throw Success: The Cougars converted 15-of-17 (88.2%) at the line, closing out the game efficiently. Defensive Stops: USF held UMary to 4-of-13 from three (30.8%) in the second half. Kyle Ingwerson: aught fire from deep, finishing with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 7-of-13 from three, while adding 6 rebounds. Creighton Morisch: recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks, anchoring USF inside. Noah Puetz: contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists, providing key playmaking and defensive presence. With the regular season complete, the Cougars look to the postseason where they'll take on the #8 seed Minot State on the road Wednesday, Feb 26th at 6:00pm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Second half surge leads USF men past Northern State
ABERDEEN, S.D. (USF) — The Sioux Falls Cougars staged a remarkable second-half comeback, erasing a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Northern State 77-66 Saturday in Wachs Arena. Creighton Morisch etched his name in the record books, breaking Teathloch Pal's program mark of 279 rebounds in a season during the NCAA Division II era while contributing 17 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. The Cougars' transformation after halftime was highlighted by a game-changing 14-0 run that flipped the contest, as they limited the Wolves to just 22 second-half points while finding their offensive rhythm. Northern State controlled the opening 20 minutes behind efficient offensive execution, shooting a blistering 53.1% (17-of-32) from the field. The Wolves dominated inside, generating high-percentage looks and capitalizing on second chances. The Cougars struggled to find their range, connecting on just 4-of-15 attempts from beyond the arc. Despite contributions from Morisch and Kyle Ingwerson, plus valuable interior production from Shawn Warrior, Sioux Falls couldn't prevent Northern from taking a 44-34 advantage into the locker room. USF emerged from halftime with renewed defensive intensity and determination on the glass. Their suffocating defense held NSU to just 8-of-24 shooting (33.3%) while creating critical turnovers that fueled their comeback. The game's pivotal sequence came midway through the half when the Cougars unleashed a devastating 14-0 scoring run over four minutes. Morisch highlighted the surge by securing the record-breaking rebound on the defensive end before converting a go-ahead layup on the ensuing possession. Ingwersen delivered clutch three-pointers while Ashley and Warrior spearheaded the defensive effort, helping Sioux Falls dominate the final period 43-22. The Cougars built an 11-point cushion in the closing minutes and sealed the victory at the free-throw line. Dominant Second Half: USF outscored NSU 43-22 after halftime, locking down defensively while shooting nearly 50% from the field to erase a 10-point deficit and take control late. Shooting Turnaround: After hitting just 37.5% in the first half, the Cougars found their rhythm in the second, improving to 48.3%, thanks to better ball movement and high-percentage looks inside. Battle of the Boards: USF outrebounded NSU 42-34, controlling the glass in the second half with key defensive rebounds and crucial second-chance opportunities. Ball Security: The Cougars committed just 11 turnovers while forcing 14, turning NSU's mistakes into 14 points and maintaining composure down the stretch. Transition Advantage: USF's defense led to quick offense, as they outscored NSU 8-0 in fast-break points, capitalizing on a few steals. Creighton Morisch: Led the way with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks, while breaking the program's D2-era single-season rebounding record. Kyle Ingwerson: Scored 16 points with 6 rebounds, hitting four three-pointers to spark the second-half comeback. Shawn Warrior: Provided 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals, delivering key interior plays on both ends. Taylen Ashley: Controlled the pace with 12 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals, knocking down timely shots and pushing the tempo. Noah Puetz: Added 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, steadying the offense with efficient playmaking and decision-making. The Cougars will finish up the regular season tomorrow, Feb 22nd when they take on the University of Mary Marauders at 3:30pm in the McDowell Activity Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
