Box Score There's nothing like playing at home:

The University of Minnesota Duluth proved it tonight, extending its home winning streak to three to open they season, as the Bulldogs dropped the University of Mary by a 72-65 final on Friday night.

UMD (3-5, 1-3 NSIC) picked up its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win of the year after nearly four weeks on the road. The Marauders (2-6, 0-4) remain winless in league play.

The start of the night seemed ominous for the Bulldogs, as U-Mary got off to an early five-point lead, but UMD bounced back. Just after the seven minute mark of the opening frame, the Bulldogs took a five point lead of their own. The first half saw nine lead changes and three tie scores, but UMD held a two-point lead going into half. Whatever head coach Matt Bowen said in the locker room sparked the Bulldogs as they scored the first ten points of the second half, taking a 12-point lead just past the four-minute mark.

UMD builts its lead to as many as 15, but a flurry in the game's final seconds cut the deficit down to the eventual seven-point margin. The Bulldog seniors - Jordan Reetz and Peter Crawford - led the way offensively. Reetz had 22 points on 8-of-15 from the floor while Crawford contributed a career-high 17 - a surprising thing to say as he is averaging 13.6 points per game this season - while also swiping three steals on the night.

Junior guard Reece Zoelle had 11 points and matched freshman forward Charles Benson with a team-high seven rebounds. Junior guard Junior Coleman added ten points off the bench for UMD. The Bulldogs shot 40.3 percent on the night, but were 18-of-20 from the charity stripe. U-Mary shot 47.3 percent but made good on just half of its 16 free throws.

The Bulldogs return to action at Romano Gym on Saturday evening as they take on Minot State University. Opening tip is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. following the women's game against the Beavers.