A Bruggeman came out on top today. Unfortunately, it wasn't the one sibling donning the colors of the maroon-and-gold.

Ryan Bruggeman and Southwest Minnesota State came away with 75-63 win over assistant head coach Casey Bruggeman and the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday evening at Romano Gymnasium. The Mustangs got a game-leading 30 points from the younger brother, who has won all four sibling rivalries (3-0 vs. the University of Mary), to hand the Bulldogs' their third straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference loss. Junior forward Brandon Myer netted 29 points to lead the Bulldogs (5-4; 2-3 NSIC).

Bruggeman, the reigning NSIC South Division Player of the Week, had six rebounds, four assists and four steals to go along with his 30 points including a perfect 11-for-11 at the charity stripe. Myer compiled nine rebounds, a collegiate-tying six steals and a pair of blocks. He was also 8-of-8 at the line. 

A 17-0 run spanning 4:41 in the second half was the downfall on Saturday. UMD had control and was leading by four after Myer drove into line and drained a pull-up jumper. Southwest Minnesota State (7-4; 2-3 NSIC) stiffen up defensively after the made field goal by Myer. The Bulldogs missed their next nine shots and turned the ball over four times. The Mustangs capitalized on the UMD miscues and pulled ahead 55-48 with five straight buckets after blowing a 11-point first-half advantage. 

UMD fought back from a 40-29 halftime deficit but expended all its energy climbing back. For the second straight night, the Bulldogs came out of the tunnel charged up and committed to the halftime adjustments. The Bulldogs scored eight times on their opening 12 possessions of the second half. Five minutes into the half, senior forward Sean Burns tied it at 42-42 after sinking a pair of free throws. Myer and freshman guard Hunter Plamann scored on back-to-back layups to put UMD ahead by four with 13 minutes and change left. 

Both clubs each attempted 55 shots with the Mustangs making two more baskets than the Bulldogs. SMSU went 8-for-27 from behind the arc, UMD shot 3-for-21 in that department. The Bulldogs won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Mustangs 34-14 but UMD failed to get any production off the bench as the reserve players came up empty on six attempts.

Burns added 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the Bulldogs. Junior guard Logan Rohrscheib chipped in with 11 points. Plamann led UMD with four assists while senior guard Mamadou Ngom registered six points and a career high four steals tonight in the setback.

The Bulldogs face St. Cloud State University on Dec. 30 to close out 2018. UMD defeated the then-No. 13 Huskies in St. Cloud in the NSIC opener two weeks ago. 


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