During the first and final ten minutes of the game, Northern Michigan University made it interesting against the University of Minnesota Duluth, but the middle of the game belonged to the Bulldogs as the home team rolled to a 79-67 non-conference victory at Romano Gym on Tuesday night.
UMD (2-1) started slow, falling behind 7-0 but never let the lead reach double digits. Beginning just past the ten-minute mark of the half, the Bulldogs ran off a 20-4 run against Northern Michigan (0-1) that turned a 25-19 deficit into a 39-29 lead with 2:19 remaining before the break. The teams would trade baskets in the remaining minutes, before senior forward
Kristofer Jackson brought the crowd to their feet with a slam dunk at the buzzer, giving the Bulldogs a 13-point lead at the break.
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Senior guard
Taylor Lavery contiued his hot streak from beyond the arc, dropping a trio of three-pointers in the first half to lead UMD with 16 points at the break. UMD finished the half shooting 48.4 percent after having started the game just 1-of-6, that one being a much-needed three by sophomore forward
Jake Wilson that made the score 7-3 when the Bulldogs could not afford to fall any further behind. The Wildcats shot 38.9 percent in the opening half and 40 percent in the game, but the difference largely came down to UMD's ability to make and draw free throw shots. The Bulldogs were 21-of-23 from the line, including 9-of-10 in the second half as they held off Northern.
Lavery would finish with 21 points for the Bulldogs, but he was edged out for the team-high on a last-minute bucket by senior swing guard
Pierre Newton, who had 23 and six rebounds on the night. Senior forward
Brendon Pineda fell one rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. Head coach
Matt Bowen got points from eight different players on the night and rebounds from nine as they rolled to an eventual 12 point victory, with a game-high lead of 16 on the night.
The Wildcats had three players reach double-digit scoring on the night, led by freshman guard Naba Echols with 16. Senior guard Terry Nash added 13, while sophomore Jordan Perez had 12 and a team-high seven rebounds. UMD led by as many as 16 in the second half, but Northern Michigan cut the lead down to five before the Bulldogs eventually made good on enough free throws while holding the Wildcats scoreless during the final 3:33 but for a last-minute and-one that cut the lead from 15 to the final 12.
UP NEXTUMD will not have long to soak in a victory in front of its home crowd as it hits the road for its next three beginning Thursday as the Bulldogs take on Michigan Technological University in non-conference action. Opening tip is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
