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TOTAL TEAM EFFORT LEADS BULLDOGS PAST LUMBERJACKS 100-60

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Sophomore guard Rhett McDonald tallied a game-high 15 points for the Bulldogs in Tuesday night's 100-60 win over Division III Northland College.

Over Christmas break, the University of Minnesota Duluth men’s basketball team took some time off from the hardwood, as they enjoyed the holiday season with their friends and family.

Turns out, they haven’t lost their touch.

Tuesday night on their home floor, the Bulldogs used their fast-paced offense and deadly three-point shooting attack to burry Division III affiliate Northland College 100-60 in front of crowd of 138 fans at Romano Gymnasium.

Though UMD (9-5 overall; 3-1 NSIC) shot higher percentages from the field, charity stripe and beyond the arc, collected more assists, rebounds and committed fewer turnovers than the visiting Lumberjacks (2-8; 1-1), the game was surprising close early on.

Northland, being a heavy underdog, started the game going back-and-forth with the Bulldogs as they found themselves trailing by just a bucket at 31-29 with four minutes to play in the half.

Then things suddenly changed when sophomore guard Rhett McDonald stepped onto the floor.

Within the next minute, McDonald, a native of Cambridge, Minn., scored the next nine UMD points, as he knocked down three shots – of three attempts – from downtown to give the Bulldogs a 40-29 advantage with three minutes left on the clock.

McDonald’s long-range bombs proved to be crucial, as UMD walked into the locker room with a 44-31 lead at the break.

“I was very impressed by how hard Northland competed with us in the first half,” said Bulldog head coach Gary Holquist. “Rhett’s three consecutive three-pointers really opened the gap.”

The second half was more of UMD, as the Bulldogs outscored the Lumberjacks 56-29 in the frame, by shooting 67 percent (22-of-33) from the floor, an eye-popping 60 percent from downtown (9-of-15) and not missing a free-throw (3-of-3). UMD also racked up 11 more rebounds, seven more assists and gave the ball away fewer times than their non-conference foes.

McDonald paced the Bulldogs in the scoring department, as he totaled a game-high 15 on the night by shooting 71 percent (5-of-7) from the field and 67 percent (4-of-6) from deep, while he dished out a pair of assists and added a steal in the win.

Junior forward Brian Sykora continued to add to his stellar resume, as the captain posted another double-double by pouring in 14 points and grabbing a team-leading 10 rebounds on the night.  The Bloomington, Minn. native also handed out four assists and recorded a steal for UMD.

Though battling the flu, senior guard Steve Klass still performed well, as the captain dispatched 13 points, while he snagged a pair of rebounds, had two assists, and blocked a shot in just 16 minutes of play.

Junior guard Ron White had a big night too, as he scored 11 points, gave out three assists, recorded a pair of steals and secured two rebounds in the win.

Junior point guard Jordan Schade had a nice game for the maroon and gold, as he racked up nine points shooting 75 percent (3-of-4) from both the field and behind the arc, while added four helpers. His fellow captain, senior center John Vaudreuil, posted nine points and five rebounds in the stat book, while he also shot 75 percent (3-of-4) from the floor.

Fellow junior forward Steve Duncan also had a hot hand, as he shot 75 percent (3-of-4) from the field en route to collecting eight points, three assists, a pair of steals and blocked shot, while sophomore forward Marcus Helland was a perfect 3-of-3 on the night, as he tallied seven points and three boards for UMD.

Bulldog freshman point guard Ryan Rasmussen also helped the cause, as he piled up five points, three assists and three rebounds, while junior forward Nick Ables knocked down his only deep shot of the night, giving him three points in the box score.

In just 12 minutes of play, junior guard Byron Ninham racked up an impressive stat line consisting of five assists, four points, four rebounds, a steal and a blocked shot, while sophomore center Ivan Franklin rounded out the scoring for the Bulldogs, as he added a bucket in the victory.

When all said and done, UMD had four players score in double figures, as they shot 75 percent from the charity stripe (12-of-16), 61 percent (37-of-61) from the floor and 56 percent (14-of-25) from behind the arc, while everyone got their name in the box score.

It is safe to say, the Bulldogs victory was a total team effort.

“Our shooting was the difference tonight,” said Holquist. “As of right now, we are really starting to get to where we want to be.”

UMD will now hit the road; as they will be back on the hardwood in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday (Jan. 2) when do battle against Wayne State (Neb.) (5-5; 1-2) at 8:00 p.m., followed by a clash with Augustana (S.D.) (8-2; 2-1) on Saturday (Jan. 3) at 8:00 p.m.

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