The University of Minnesota Duluth faced a tough task in its opening matchup of the 2017 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament, matching up against one-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University. On Wednesday, it was the Mustangs who continued to build upon their successful season, downing the Bulldogs 79-54.

UMD connected on 20-of-52 (38.5 percent) field goals, including 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from three-point range, while SMSU found much more success from the floor -- shooting 53.7 percent. The Mustangs won the ball control battle, turning the ball over just seven times compared to the Bulldogs' 12. 

Offensively, UMD was led in scoring by freshman forward Luke Harris, who netted 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Junior guard Kyle Schalow notched eight points on the night in addition to picking up a team-high five assists. Schalow and sophomore guard Cody Tomlinson shared the Bulldog lead in rebounds, each hauling in five boards.

A trio of Mustangs paved the way offensively -- Turner Moen (15), Carter Kirk (15), and Taylor Schafer (14) all surpassed double-digit points. Moen also added a game-leading seven rebounds, aiding SMSU to a slim 30-28 advantage overall on the glass.

After trailing for the opening six minutes of play, UMD captured its first lead of the night, 11-9, on a three-pointer from Harris with 13:24 to play. The Bulldog advantage was short-lived however, as the Mustangs quickly regained the edge on the ensuing possession. With 6:29 to play, Southwest Minnesota State extended its lead by rattling off a 10-1 run to close the half, taking a 35-22 lead into the break.

The Mustangs wasted little time stretching their lead further in the second half, opening with a 25-7 run over eight minutes of play. SMSU extended its lead to as much as 37 points, but a pair of three-pointers by freshman guard Max Bawden cut the lead down to 79-54 to conclude the game.

With the loss, UMD wraps up its 2017 season with an overall record of 4-25 and 3-19 in NSIC play.