CANYON, Texas – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team cut an 11-point deficit to two, but the rally came up short in a 67-63 loss to Daemen College in nonconference action Friday at the D2 Tipoff Classic in Canyon, Texas.
 
MSUM fell to 0-1 on the year while Daemen, which was in the NCAA Division II Elite 8 last season, improved to 1-0. Both teams received votes in the NABC preseason coaches poll.
 
The Dragons shot 36.4 percent (24-of-66) from the field but hit just 5-of-29 from three-point range. Daemen shot 44.7 percent (21-of-47).
 
Junior guard Lorenzo McGhee paced MSUM with 12 points while senior forward Gatdoar Kueth and junior guard Bryce Irsfeld had 10 points each. Kueth led with eight rebounds. Junior guard Gavin Baumgartner had four assists.
 
The game was close the whole way with 12 ties and 11 lead changes.
 
MSUM was within 53-50 after a basket from junior forward Dane Zimmer would not score for the next 3:25 as Daemen built a 61-50 lead.
 
From there, MSUM cut into the lead and was within 62-58 after a basket from junior guard Siman Sem.
 
Baumgartner's basket with nine seconds left brought MSUM within 62-60 and MSUM was within 65-63 with three seconds left but Daemen hit two foul shots to ice the game with three seconds left.
 
MSUM will face No. 3-ranked West Texas A&M at 4 p.m. on Saturday.