Making its final home showing of 2010-11, the University of Minnesota Duluth played a gritty first half, but ultimately could not hold off the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs in a 79-67 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference on Senior Night at UMD's Romano Gymnasium.

SMSU charged out of the gate early, jumping to an immediate eight point lead seven minutes into the contest. The Mustang's cushion would stretch to as much as 10 before UMD began a run of their own to close the half. Trailing 30-20 with 8:58 left in the opening period, freshman forward Brett Ervin made a nifty lay-up to begin a 18-7 run that would key the Bulldogs blazing finish to the half.

With 1:48 remaining in the first 20 minutes, UMD led by four--their largest lead of the game. The Bulldogs carried a one-point advantage, 44-43, into the halftime locker room.

Little went right for UMD in the second half. The Bulldogs connected on only one field goal in the first eight minutes of the period, and a 17-4 Mustang run out of the locker room doomed the home team. The SMSU lead would stretch to as much as 23 before UMD tightened the gap in the game's waning moments.

The Mustangs shot an impressive 55 percent from the field, compared to 41 percent for the Bulldogs and also outrebounded UMD 36-27.

Junior guard Ryan Rasmussen led the Bulldogs (9-15 overall, 7-13 NSIC) in scoring with 17 points--including his 1,000th career point, which he collected on his fourth and final three-pointer of the evening Sophomore guard Jake Hottenstine added 14 points and freshman forward Brett Ervin contributed 10.

UMD hits the road next weekend for their final two games of the 2010-11 season. Friday will take the Bulldogs to NSIC rival Winona State University and Saturday to Upper Iowa University.