Box Score Box Score

The University of Minnesota Duluth held a 13-point lead in the second half but had to hold off the visiting Blue Devils of the University of Wisconsin-Stout for a late-game victory in the Bulldogs' home opener Saturday.

UMD (1-0) was challenged early by Stout with four tie scores in the first seven minutes, leading to a 10-10 tie just before the 13:00 mark. The Bulldogs held the lead for the rest of the half, extending to 12 points with four minutes to go before taking a ten-point margin to the locker room. UMD shot 50 percent in the first half led by senior guard Jordan Reetz who was three-for-four from the floor for 12 points in the opening frame.

The Blue Devils made a charge in the second half, tying the game at 59 apiece with just 18 seconds remaining, but a 13-22 line from the charity stroke (59.1 percent) did Stout in as the Bulldogs relied on a game-winning free throw from freshman forward Jonah Eisenschenk with 11 tics on the clock to defeat the visitors from across the border.

Just seven players saw the floor for UMD in the season opener with junior guards Kristofer Jackson, Jack Connors, and Reece Zoelle all playing 37 minutes. Jackson finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards, including eight on the defensive end. Jackson also tied a UMD single-game record with six blocked shots in the game. Reetz finished with 19 points in his 34 minutes of work. Senior guard Peter Crawford also hit double digits with 11 points on the night, going three-for-three from the floor.

Turnovers told the story in the defensive affair with Stout making seven steals to UMD's five. The Bulldogs gave up the ball 14 times but proved tough in the defensive end, hauling in 24 of 34 rebounds in the Blue Devils' offensive zone.

UMD returns to the court next week as the Bulldogs travel to Michigan Tech University for another non-conference affair. The action gets underway from Houghton at 3:00 p.m. next Saturday afternoon.