MORRIS, Minn. --- During senior Tim Wendel's career, he's never gone to UM-Morris and defeated the Cougars. That is, until Wednesday night when the senior needed every one of his 38 points to defeat the Cougars by one, 74-73, and to clinch the Storm in the playoffs for the third consecutive season. 

Wendel is now at 1,961 career points, nearing the rare 2,000 point mark and has the most in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)'s DIII era, passing Morris' CD Douglas (only counting players that played in all four years in the UMAC). Along with the remarkable point totals, Wendel added eleven rebounds for his tenth double of the season and fourth straight. He also added three assists, two blocks, and a steal.

Junior Christian Moore had an amazing game as well, with 18 points on 7/9 shooting from the field. He made four of five three-point attempts, the second time he's hit four three-pointers in a game this season. Senior wing Gunnar Ledin scored 13 points in the contest, his 15th game of the season in double figures. In addition, Ledin contributed in several other ways leading the team with five assists, grabbing six rebounds, blocking two shots and stealing two Cougars possesions. Sophomore Seth Royston added four points and fellow sophomore Brandon Pratt added one in limited action. 

The Storm are the fifth team to secure a berth in the 2020 UMAC Playoffs, joining a field with Northwestern, Bethany Lutheran, UW-Superior, and St. Scholastica. Crown heads home for a contest Thursday against Maranatha Baptist, 4 pm at the Wild Athletic Center in St. Bonifacius.