The University of Minnesota Duluth clawed back to tie the score in the second half, but saw No. 6-ranked Augustana (S.D.) College end the Bulldogs' four-game winning streak and season, 71-62 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Sanford Health Postseason Tournament quarterfinals on Sunday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.
UMD (16-14) finished with its first winning record since the 2011-12 season and advanced to the second round of the NSIC Tournament for the first time since rejoining the conference in 2008-09, just three seasons into the tenure of head coach
Matt Bowen, who also matched the second-best win total in the best ten seasons for the Bulldogs. No. 6 Augustana, now 28-2 on the season, faced a tougher challenge than their first meeting with UMD, but pulled away late to advance to the semifinal round Monday.
HIGHLIGHTS• All-NSIC First Team selection, senior center
Brett Ervin, scored 26 points to lead the way for UMD, finishing 11-of-19 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three-point range while also grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard
Pierre Newton had 13 points and five rebounds. Senior guard
Reece Zoelle ended his UMD career with seven points, five boards, and five assists.
• The NSIC's Defensive PLayer of the Year, Casey Schilling led the way with 30 points and 15 rebounds for the Vikings. NSIC Co-Player of the Year Daniel Jansen had 17 points while NSIC Freshman of the Year Jordan Spencer added 11 for Augustana.
Â
After a 26 point victory against the Bulldogs earlier this season, the second-ranked Vikings leaped out to a six-point lead before three minutes ticked off the clock. The Bulldogs clawed back within one but a pair of turnovers cost them - just two of nine on the night as Augustana reclaimed a seven-point lead, building to as many as 12 before holding on for a 41-34 halftime lead.
"You hate to see guys come up short, but you can't fault their effort or attitude," said Coach Bowen after the game. "They worked extremely hard and gave a very good basketball team a good run." The Bulldogs scraped back even at 52-52 with a 13-3 run in the second half, but would never regain the lead as Augustana once again pulled away to claim a nine-point victory.
UMD shot 41.5 percent for the game and 6-of-22 from beyond the arc while taking just five trips to the free throw line for a pair of points. Augustana shot 43.9 percent, made good on 4-of-13 three-pointers, and 17-of-22 trips to the charity stripe. The two teams combined for just eight points off their respective benches.
"The end of the season is always tough. I feel for two seniors like Brett & Reece who have given a lot to the program," said Bowen. "Ultimately, we got beat at the free throw line. We shot 5, they shot 22. We've done that to teams this year. You have to give Augustana credit. Our guys executed, but when it came down to it, we just came up a little short."
