After being snowed out one week ago, the University of Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State University took to the court for game two of the season series between the interstate rivals. Despite numerous attempts by the Bulldogs to close a gap, the Huskies ultimately pulled away to move into a tie for first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Senior forward Charles Benson led the way for UMD offensively, scoring a career-high 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Benson has now knocked down at least three field goals in six straight games, dating back to Jan. 3 against the University of Wisconsin-Superior. Freshman forward Luke Harris concluded the night with 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting.

St. Cloud State imposed its way on offense in the first half, scoring 47 points in the opening 20 minutes. Senior guard Scottie Stone, averaging 18.9 points per game prior to Tuesday, netted 17 points in 13 minutes to kick off the game on 7-of-10 shooting. Stone would go on to break the Huskie record for three-pointers made in a career with 254 during the second half.

SCSU held the lead for nearly the entire first half, due in part to a 13-2 run midway through the half. The Huskies extended their lead to as much as 14 points before taking 47-34 lead into the break.

Luke Harris notched the first six points in the first half, and one-upped it as he picked up the opening seven points for UMD in the second half. The Bulldogs turned quickly narrowed a 13 point halftime deficit down to four points following a jumper by junior forward Jake Wilson with 15:37 to play. That mark proved to be as close as UMD would push, as St. Cloud State would go on to stretch its lead to as much as 19 before taking a 79-65 victory.

The Bulldogs and Huskies shot within percentage points from the field, but it was the three-point performance from St. Cloud State that grabbed an advantage. SCSU held UMD to just 8-of-29 (27.6 percent) from long range on the night.

The Bulldogs will take the court for a pair of games this weekend as they face Minnesota State University, Moorhead and Northern State University on the road.