The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball squads win streak of eight games has come to an end in a 89-82 triple overtime thriller in Marshall, Minn. against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs now carry a 9-2 overall (4-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) while the Mustangs improved to 4-7 overall (1-4 in the NSIC) on the season.
 
UMD would shoot 35.1% (27-77) from the floor while grabbing 52 rebounds, one block and five steals. SMSU would shoot 41.8% (33-79) from the floor while grabbing 49 rebounds, eight blocks and seven steals.
 
 The Mustangs would open the scoring in the first half, scoring a quick layup within the opening 40 seconds. Scoring would quickly go quiet until senior forward Alex Illikainen scored a short jumper for two with SMSU quickly responding with a two of their own. The Mustangs would build their lead to four off of another in-tight jumper. The Mustangs would score one more off of a free throw. Senior forward Brandon Myer scored two free throws to get UMD back on the board, with redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair capitalizing on a defensive rebound by senior guard Trevor Entwisle, scoring a layup. The two sides battled back and forth to outplay the other, with the Mustangs scoring a 3-pointer to extend their lead. Myer would follow with a layup with SMSU responding quickly with a 2-point jumper leading into the first media timeout. Myer scored a quick layup out of the timeout, bringing the Bulldogs to within one at 12-10 before Blair would drop a deep 3-pointer to grab the lead. After a steal from Myer, senior guard Logan Rohrscheib would drain a 3-pointer with a pass coming from Entwilse. The Mustangs would respond with a quick two before a media timeout would take place. Entwilse would grab his first points with a 3-pointer, coming off a pass from freshman guard Jack Middleton. After a quick two from the Mustangs, Rohrscheib would drop another 3-pointer to grab a six point lead. SMSU would grab a 2-point jumper before Myer would drain a 3-pointer in response. After the Mustangs drained a 3-pointer of their own, the squads would battle for possession again before SMSU scored another two off a layup to pull within two. After about a minute and a half of back and forth possessions there would be a media timeout. The Mustangs would score out of the timeout making one of two free throws. Illikainen would follow up with a quick layup before SMSU would drop in one of their own. Sophomore guard Hunter Plamann would score one of two free throws to give the Bulldogs a two point lead before the Mustangs would an in-tight 2-pointer to tie things at 28 a side. Rohrscheib would drop two free throws to give UMD the lead. Plamann would extend the Bulldogs lead with a deep 3-pointer, assist coming from Blair. Before the half would close out, SMSU would call a timeout with 50 seconds on the clock. After a mis from the Mustangs, the Bulldogs would call a timeout of their own with 26 left of the clock. No one was able to score in the closing seconds of the half, UMD taking a 33-28 lead into the halfway mark.
 
Each team had a miss to open the half, with the first points coming from the Mustangs about a minute in. SMSU would pull to within one on two free throws. UMD would get on the board with a Myer 2-point jumper almost three minutes in to the half. Middleton would drop a 3-pointer to follow and grab the Bulldogs a six point lead at 38-32. SMSU followed suite with a 3-pointer of their own. Myer would drain two shots from the charity stripe, with a media timeout following. Illikainen would drain a layup with a foul coming on the shot, also sinking that as well. SMSU grabbed a short jumper to pull within six, UMD leading 43-37. The Mustangs would chip back with another two points to pull within four, followed by a 3-pointer to pull within one. SMSU would grab the lead with another 3-pointer at 45-43. That would lead into a media timeout. After the quick break, the teams traded misses before Rohrscheib would foul. SMSU would take advantage and drop a 3-pointer to go ahead 48-43. UMD was able to score a quick 2-pointer from Myer to respond, with the Mustangs scoring a two to respond. SMSU would score again with an in-tight two, forcing the Bulldogs to take a timeout trailing by seven at 52-45. Myer scored out of the timeout with a 2-pointer, following with a dunk and an SMSU foul on Myer to pull UMD to within two. After a media timeout, Blair would commit a foul to give SMSU two free throws, the Mustangs making one of two before Myer would drain a deep 3-pointer to tie things at 53 a side. SMSU would score a jumper for two before committing a foul giving Myer two free throws. Myer would go 2-2 to tie things at 55. The Mustangs would call a timeout, scoring a quick two out of the break to regain the lead. Off of a free throw, UMD would grab the rebound, but would miss the ensuing attempt. SMSU would miss, leading to a foul from the Mustangs. Myer would make both, tying things at 57 a side and UMD's head coach Justin Weick calling a timeout with 49 ticks left on the clock. After an SMSU miss, the Bulldogs again would call a timeout at 8.7 left on the clock. After regulation, the teams would be tied and head to OT at 57 a side.
 
The Mustangs would open the overtime frame with an offensive foul, with Entwisle draining a 2-pointer to take the lead in the extra frame. After a free throw make from SMSU, Entwisle would grab another 2-pointer. The Mustangs would respond with a 3-pointer to which Entwilse would score his third straight for the Bulldogs on a deep 3-pointer. SMSU would respond with one of their own to tie things at 64 a side. Middleton would drop a 3-pointer of his own to put up in the lead again to which the Mustangs would take a timeout. SMSU would call another timeout to regain themselves. The Mustangs would score a three to tie things at 67 with just under a minute remaining. With 47 seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs would call a timeout of their own. Neither team would take a lead and they would head into double OT.
 
Myer would open scoring in the second overtime, grabbing a quick layup. After one free throw make from Entwilse, the teams battled for possession as the Bulldogs lead by two at 69-67. The Mustangs would make a 3-pointer to take the lead with 1:47 left in the game. Entwilse would make a two but SMSU would counter with one of their own. The Mustangs would dunk one home to take a three point lead on UMD with 1:09 remaining and the Bulldogs calling a timeout. Entwisle would come out firing with a 3-pointer to tie things at 74. The Mustangs would draw a foul, making only one with Myer grabbing the reboud and Entwisle draining a go-ahead 3-pointer with 13.6 remaining. SMSU would call a timeout, and make a quick three to take the lead with seven seconds. The Mustangs would foul with 1.4 left on the clock and SMSU calling a timeout. Myers would go 1-2 and time would run out.
 
With each team trading misses, SMSU would score first with a quick layup. Myer would score a free throw but the Mustangs would score a short jumper to take a three point lead before committing a foul. Myer make the second free throw to pull UMD within two. The Bulldogs had a pair of misses, with SMSU grabbing a defensive rebound before making a layup to take a four point lead at 84-80. Entwisle would foul with 26 second remaining, leading to two free throw makes and a six point Mustangs lead. SMSU would hold tight on the lead finishing out the game 89-82
 
Middleton would finish with six points, grabbing six rebounds and two assists while shooting 33.3% (2-6) on the night. Blair would score five points, shooting 33.3% (2-6) while grabbing four rebounds and dishing one assist. Plamann would score four with 20% (1-5) from the floor, grabbing one rebound, assist and steal. Rohrscheib would score eight on a 25% (2-8) from the floor, grabbing tree rebounds and one assist. Entwisle would score 18 in the effort, dishing five assists, grabbing three rebounds and two steals with a 46.7% (7-15) shooting percentage. Myer dropped a double-double with 34 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 40% (10-25) with five assists, two steals and one block. Illikainen would score seven, grabbing 10 rebounds with two assists and shooting 25z% (3-12) from the floor.
 
Bulldogs back in action Dec. 21 at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn.