ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The Sioux Falls Cougars (11-8, 7-6 NSIC) came up short on the road against the St. Cloud State Huskies (13-8, 9-4 NSIC) in a hard-fought 78-69 contest at Halenbeck Hall. Despite a standout 23-point performance from Taylen Ashley and a double-double by Creighton Morisch, the Cougars couldn't overcome St. Cloud's efficient offense and timely plays in the second half. 

1st Half  

The Cougars opened the game aggressively on the glass but struggled to string together consistent offense early. After a quick basket from Creighton Morisch off an offensive rebound, Kyle Ingwerson drained a three-pointer to tie the game at 5-5. Sioux Falls kept the score close in the opening minutes, relying on second-chance opportunities from their dominance on the boards. 

Midway through the half, the Cougars endured a cold stretch offensively, missing several open looks and committing turnovers, which allowed the home team to build a lead. Sioux Falls responded by leaning on their depth and energy off the bench. Jack Cartwright gave the Cougars a spark, knocking down three three-pointers in the final seven minutes of the half. 

Taylen Ashley attacked the rim with consistency, scoring in transition to chip away at the deficit. Sioux Falls finished the half strong, closing on a 15-6 run to head into halftime trailing 39-38. The Cougars shot 37.8% (14-of-37) from the field in the first half and pulled down an impressive 13 offensive rebounds, which kept them within one possession despite their struggles shooting. 

2nd Half 

Sioux Falls came out determined to close the gap early in the second half. Ashley spearheaded the effort, dropping 15 points in the second half which included a perfect 3-3 from three-point range. The Cougars' strong rebounding presence, led by Morisch and Shawn Warrior, gave them multiple second-chance opportunities, but they struggled to capitalize consistently. 

As the half progressed, the Cougars kept the game within reach, but cold shooting from the field and missed free throws proved costly. With six minutes remaining, Ashley hit a three-pointer to give Sioux Falls a 65-64 lead. However, the offense stalled in the closing minutes, with the Cougars managing just one field goal in the final five minutes of play. 

Sioux Falls shot 32.3% (10-of-31) in the second half and finished the game at 54.5% from the free-throw line (6-of-11). While their effort on the boards and from the perimeter kept them in the game, the inability to convert in key moments ultimately sealed their fate. 

Key Team Stats 

• Field Goal Percentage: Sioux Falls shot 35.3% (24-of-68) overall and 40% (10-of-25) from three-point range. 

• Rebounding Edge: The Cougars dominated the boards, outrebounding the Huskies 44-36, including 21 offensive rebounds. 

• Second-Chance Opportunities: Sioux Falls converted 15 points off their offensive rebounds, keeping the game close. 

• Bench Contributions: USF's bench added 19 points, with Cartwright leading the charge. 

Key Coo 

• Taylen Ashley: Led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including three three-pointers, while adding two assists and four free throws. 

• Creighton Morisch: Tallied a double-double with 15 points, 13 rebounds (five offensive), and four assists, controlling the glass. 

• Jack Cartwright: Scored 15 points off the bench, hitting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. 

Up Next 

The Cougars continue north for their matchup tomorrow, January 25th, against the Bemidji State Beavers at 3:30pm in the BSU Gymnasium. 

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