MORRIS, Minn. – The 2024-25 season has been an interesting one for the Yellowjacket men's basketball team. With more twists and turns than straightaways, the Yellowjackets have had a tough time stringing wins together in the second half, putting their position in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament in peril.
 
After Wednesday's win over Crown, the Yellowjackets needed a win Saturday in the regular season finale at Minnesota Morris to secure a playoff berth. A loss, and they would need help from some other teams in the conference.
 
Unfortunately, neither of those things happened Saturday, and the Yellowjackets had their season come to an end.
 
The Yellowjackets fell behind big in the first half and were unable to close the deficit, falling to Minnesota Morris 89-72 at Jim Gremmels Court.
 
Senior J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) paced the Yellowjackets Saturday, scoring a team-high 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Walker also had three rebounds and an assist in 32 minutes of play.
 
GAME NOTES

• The 'Jackets led 8-7 early, but Morris came storming back, scoring the next nine points to double up the Yellowjackets, 16-8.
• UWS closed the gap midway through the first half, trailing 20-17, but Morris went on a 10-2 run to blow the game open.
• Morris' lead reached as many as 15 points before a Walker layup in the final minute made it 50-37 at the half.
• It was more of the same early in the second half, as Morris opened up a 20-point lead before the Yellowjackets went on a run. Walker and Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) led the charge as the Yellowjackets scored 12 unanswered, cutting the Morris lead to eight, 61-53.
• That's as close as the Yellowjackets would get, and Morris pulled away for the victory.
• Barker and T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) each scored 12 points for the Yellowjackets.
• Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) dropped in 10 points.
• Moberg also grabbed a team-high four rebounds and dished out three assists.
• As a team the Yellowjackets shot 45.2 percent on 28-of-62 shooting, including 7-of-21 from three.
• The Yellowjackets outscored Morris in the paint, 40-34. They also outscored the Morris bench, 36-16.
• Dom Aguilar of Morris led all scorers with 32 points.
• With the win, Morris secured a portion of the UMAC regular season championship and will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Cougars will be UMAC co-champions with North Central.

The Yellowjackets close their season 12-13 overall and 9-5 in the UMAC.
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