The University of Minnesota Duluth completed an undefeated three-game homestand in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play as head coach Matt Bowen defeated his former team Bemidji State University 74-67 in an important NSIC North Division match-up at Romano Gym on Saturday evening.

UMD (6-2, 3-0 NSIC) opened up its lead to a game-high 15 when sophomore point guard Kyle Schalow hit a pair of free throws with 2:05 remaining in the half. Bemidji State (4-3, 1-2 NSIC) cut the lead down to seven but would get no closer, as Schalow scored all of his career-high 12 points in the second half, including a trio of clutch three-pointers that helped the Bulldogs pull away. The Beavers actually took a one-point lead at 43-42 with 12:28 to go, but after a back-and-forth first 30 minutes, UMD stretched its lead and held them off late.

The 6-foot-8-inch center Ben Best caused problems for the Bulldogs in the first half, scoring 11 of his 17 points and grabbing 6 of his 11 rebounds before the break, but UMD really held him quiet in the second half. Bowen creditted it to the Bulldogs matching up better against Bemidji's big man and not giving him as many open looks. UMD got 11 points in the second half from both seniors Brendon Pineda and Pierre Newton to go with Schalow's scoring touch. Newton finished with a game-high 18. Best was among three players with 17 points for BSU. Pineda fell one rebound shy of a double-double finishing with 16 points and nine boards for UMD. Senior guard Junior Coleman continued his hot streak with 11 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

Bowen moved his career record against his former squad above .500, now at 4-3 against Bemidji State. UMD will now be tested as it heads out on the road for the first time in NSIC play.
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The Bulldogs will travel to Northern State University next Friday night to start a three-game road trip that closes out the season's first half. Opening tip between UMD and NSU is set for 8:00 p.m., following the women's contest.