Sophomore guard Cody Tomlinson scored a career-high 19 points while adding five rebounds, but it proved not enough for the University of Minnesota Duluth as Upper Iowa University left Duluth with an 85-78 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory.

Apart from Tomlinson, junior forward Jake Wilson added 17 points due in part to 4-of-6 from the three-point line. Sophomore forward Ryan Kaczynski put together arguably the best performance of his career, picking up career-bests in points (11) and assists (5).

UMD (4-13; 3-8 NSIC) shot a respectable 46.7 percent from the field, but UIU (12-6; 9-3 NSIC) topped the Bulldogs with a 54.7 percentage. As its done most of the season, UMD was responsible with the basketball, turning it over just six times compared to Upper Iowa's 10. The Bulldogs connected on 12 shots from long-range, just one shy of a season-high.

The Saturday night contest at Romano Gymnasium proved to be as closely contested as they come -- both teams held the lead for over 15 minutes while the game was tied for nearly a fourth of the 40 minutes (7:20). The Bulldogs and Peacocks traded leads on 10 occasions, the last of which occurred with 3:22 to play in the second half.

After junior guard Kyle Schalow converted a three-pointer to put UMD ahead 74-71, UIU ran off 10 of the next 11 points on its way to grabbing its largest lead of the game at the end of regulation, 85-78. The Bulldogs made good on just 1-of-7 from the floor in the final four minutes.

UMD will take its game back to the road next weekend as they face Minnesota State University, Moorhead and Northern State University.