THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will conclude its road regular season action this weekend with playoff implications on the line at Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead. The Bulldogs (14-8; 11-7 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) square off against NSIC North-leading Northern State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Head coach Justin Wieck and company return to MSU Moorhead for the first time on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

SCOUTING REPORT ON NORTHERN STATE: The Wolves are 19-5 overall and 15-3 in the NSIC this season. They have won four straight games following their lost to UMD at Romano three weeks ago. Northern State is finishing up its home schedule this weekend and are currently 9-2 at home. The Wolves swept Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State last weekend at home by scoring over 90 points each night.

Northern State averages 80.0 points per game and allows 69.9 points per game with four games left. That ranks fifth offensively and first defensively in the NSIC. The Wolves are one of the better shooting teams in the nation. They are shooting 50 percent from the floor (18th-NCAA) and 42.8 from beyond the arc (3rd-NCAA). They rank first in the NSIC in assists (15.6), fourth in rebounding (36.9), sixth in blocks (3.2) and dead last in steals (3.7).

Ian Smith is back in the lineup for the Wolves and remains their leading scorer this season. Smith averages 14.2 points per game but he got hurt in the game against the Bulldogs and missed two games before returning to action last weekend. He is the Wolves' leader in assists with 5.6 assists per game, good for fourth in the NSIC. Justin Decker scores 11.9 points per game and is shooting a solid 55 percent for the season. Parker Fox is third on the club with 11.3 points per game despite coming off the bench in 23 of the 24 games this season. Bo Fries carries the team on the boards with 5.7 rebounds per game and also chips in 10 points per game as the Wolves' best shooter (58.4 percent).

SCOUTING REPORT ON MSU MOORHEAD: The Dragons are 18-8 overall and 12-6 in the NSIC. They are riding a three-game winning streak and also swept Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State at home last weekend. MSU Moorhead had dropped two games after beating UMD three weeks ago. The Dragons have won seven of their last eight contests at home and are 10-2 overall this season at Nemzek Fieldhouse.

MSU Moorhead has the best offense in the NSIC, scoring 87.2 points per game. That figure is also 19th in the NCAA. It gives up 78.8 points per game, which is 12th compared to the other NSIC schools. The reason for its efficiency on the offensive end is its 51.5 percent shooting. The Dragons rank first in the NSIC and sixth in the NCAA. They also rank just behind Northern State in three-point shooting. They hit on 42.1 percent on the outside, which is fourth in the NCAA. MSU Moorhead ranks, in the NSIC, second in assists (15.0), seventh in steals (6.1), ninth in rebounds (35.0), and ninth in blocks (3.0).

Five Dragons average over 11 points per game this season with Addison Park leading the way with 15.7 points. Park is also the leading shooter on the team, making over 56 percent of his looks. Park is third in the NSIC in shooting percentage. Travaun Coad knocks down 14.9 points per game. He pulls down a team-leading 5.7 rebounds for the Dragons.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Dragons have played 123 times overall with UMD holding a sizeable 78-45 lead. MSU Moorhead has won seven of the last eight meetings with UMD's lone victory coming at home last season (Jan. 19, 2018). The Dragons dismantled the Bulldogs at Romano earlier this season leaving Duluth with a 79-58 win.

The Bulldogs and Wolves have played 78 times overall with UMD leading the all-time series 41-37. Northern State had won five straight games in the head-to-head series but the Bulldogs knocked off the Wolves 76-70. The last road win for UMD over Northern State came on Dec. 11, 2015.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how UMD and its opponents stack up with its records, in the NSIC and in the National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) Coaches Poll.

LAST TIME OUT: UMD won 81-72 Friday night at Augustana  and backed that up with a 77-72 victory at Wayne State on Saturday. The Bulldogs battled back both times after trailing at half. Junior forward Brandon Myer had 22 points and nine rebounds while senior forward Sean Burns compiled 18 points and 10 rebounds. Those two were at it again against the Wildcats as Myer notched 19 points and 12 rebounds and Burns had a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds.

3X NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Junior forward Brandon Myer was been named the NSIC North Division Player of the Week three times already this season (Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Jan. 21). He has took home the award five times in his career, winning the honor twice last season as well.

NEW PROGRAM RECORDS: UMD broke a few single-game program records from the free-throw line this season. Junior forward Brandon Myer set the individual free throw marks in a single game going 18-for-23 at the line. He broke Ryan Rusmussen's mark of 17 made free throws (Feb. 5, 2010 vs. SCSU) and John Vaudreuil's 22 free throw attempts (Nov. 7, 2008 vs. Montevallo). The Bulldogs also raised the bar breaking the team records as well. The 39-for-49 effort at the line vs. SCSU set the program marks for most free throw made (36 vs. Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 30, 1998) and most free throw attempts (48 vs. Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 30, 1998) in a single game.

MAGIC IS NUMBER 2: UMD can clinch a home playoff spot this weekend with two victories this weekend. It holds a three-game lead over both Minnesota Crookston and U-Mary, whom both play each other on Saturday. Any combination of a Bulldog win and at least one loss by the Golden Eagles and the Marauders will give UMD its first home NSIC postseason game since 2016.

JUST WIN, BABY: The Bulldogs have already surpassed their win total from last year with four regular season contests to go. UMD finished 12-18 last season, which previously tripled its win total from 2016-17. 

JUST WIN, BABY II: The improvement continues with the Bulldogs already eclipsing its conference win total this season. UMD went 7-15 in NSIC action in 2017-18 and now the Bulldogs have 11 NSIC wins.

ROAD SWEEP: The road sweep at Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul was the first NSIC road weekend sweep since defeating Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State on Dec. 5-6, 2014.

ROAD SWEEP II: UMD doubled down last weekend and conquered its second road sweep of the season after beating Augustana and Wayne State.

ROAD DOGG: The Bulldogs are 8-3 this season on the road. The eight road wins is the most since the 1996-97 season. That season UMD won 10 times on the road.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER: UMD is 7-3 on Saturdays this season and has won the last five times it has played taken the court on Saturday.

FINDING THE RHYTHM ON OFFENSE: After shooting under 40 percent in three straight contests, the Bulldogs have shot at least 44 percent in 12 of the last 13 games. 

FINDING THE RHYTHM ON OFFENSE II: During that span, UMD has shot over 50 percent six times including the last three times
out. 

GET OUT IN FRONT: UMD is 11-1 this season when it carries a lead into the half. Michigan Tech was the lone team to come back after trailing going into the second half.

AND FINISH STRONG: UMD is also 11-1 when leading with five minutes remaining. That lone loss came in the 73-70 overtime defeat at Mary.

BALL CONTROL AT ITS FINEST: The Bulldogs have a team assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.32. Good execution and decision-making have UMD ranked 38th in the country.

GIVING OUT DIMES: UMD has the fifth best assists per game in the NSIC. The Bulldogs are averaging 14.3 assists per game and they are assisting on 53.4 percent of their make field goals.

CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS: The Bulldogs have won the battle on the glass 15 times this season including 11 of the last 12 games. They carry a positive 3.9 rebounding margin, which is fourth in the conference.

ALPHA DOG: Junior forward Brandon Myer is leading the team is scoring with 21.1 points per game. He has the fifth best scoring average in the NSIC and is 33rd in the nation.

REBOUNDING KING: It just not scoring. Junior forward Brandon Myer leads the NSIC with 10.1 rebounds per game. He has the 12th most rebounds in the nation and is eighth in the country in defensive rebounding (7.6).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE: Combine those successes together, junior forward Brandon Myer has compiled nine double-doubles this season, which leads the NSIC and is 26th in the NCAA. That gives him a total of 16 career double-doubles.

IN A CLASS OF HIS OWN: Junior forward Brandon Myer is the only NSIC player to be averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season. He is one of only four players in the entire nation to average 20 points and 10 rebounds.

PICKPOCKET ARTIST: Junior forward Brandon Myer is among the leaders in the NSIC in steals per game. He has 1.5 steals per contest, second in the conference. Myer amassed a collegiate high six steals in the contest against Wisconsin-Superior and repeated that same feat against Southwest Minnesota State.

AND THE NEW MEMBER TO 1K CLUB: Every dog has his day and junior forward Brandon Myer had his on Jan. 11. Myer became the 38th Bulldog to join the exclusive 1,000-point club when he went off for 31 points against Mary,tying his season high. He is the last player since Reece Zoelle to hit the grand achievement back on Jan. 23, 2015.

SAVING HIS BEST FOR LAST: Senior forward Sean Burns is throwing up career marks this season. His 15.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game are career bests for a season. Burns established new single-game marks in points (26 vs. Mary 1/11) and rebounds (15 vs. Mary 1/11) this year. He has also tied his single-game collegiate high in assists and steals.

RELENTLESS POST FINISHER: Senior forward Sean Burns is first in the conference in field-goal percentage at a robust 60.7 percent. Only 16 other qualifying players sport a better shooting percentage in the nation. His rebounding average is seventh in the NSIC but it's the work he does on the offensive glass. He notches 2.6 offensive boards, which is No. 2 in the NSIC.

FOR THREE!: Junior guard Logan Rohrscheib can spot up and get a clean look from outside. The three-point specialist has a team-high 44 baskets from long-range.

THE MARKSMAN: Junior guard Logan Rohrscheib has led the team in three point baskets each of the last two seasons and is on pace to do so again. His 44 three-point baskets are 13 more than the next Bulldog. At his current pace, Rohrscheib could ascend into the top five of the Bulldog three-point field goals all-time list.

DEBUTED IN STYLE: Justin Wieck's first game as the head coach was a successful one. Wieck grabbed his first win at the Division II level on Nov. 10, 2018 against St. Scholastica.

...WHILE HITTING TRIPLE DIGITS: The 116 points scored against the Saints is the most since a 126-124 overtime win over Bemidji State University on Feb. 25, 2009. Its the first time UMD has reached triple digits since Jan. 30, 2015.

BLOWOUT BASH: That 48-point victory over the Saints was the largest margin of victory by UMD since it won by 56 points against Northland College (95-39) on Dec. 3, 2004.

PULLING RANK: With UMD's 91-81 victory over then-No. 13 St. Cloud State earlier this season it was the first win over a ranked opponent on Jan. 3, 2016 against Minnesota State University Mankato, who was ranked No. 25 at the time. 

NSIC PRESEASON COACHES POLL: The Bulldogs were tabbed with a 10th place finish in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' poll released on Oct. 18. UMD exceeded expectations placed on them a season ago and received 103 points in the poll. The Bulldogs were picked to finish fifth in the North Division.

St. Cloud State University and Minnesota State University were selected by the NSIC coaches as the preseason favorites in the NSIC for the 2018-19 season. Both St. Cloud State and Minnesota State received 209 points with the Mavericks garnering eight first places votes and the Huskies with five. NCAA National runner-up Northern State University was picked to finish fifth overall with 177 points. 

In the divisional rankings, St. Cloud State was the unanimous choice in the north, picking up all seven first place votes. In the south, Minnesota State and Sioux Falls shared the top spot as both had 43 points and four first place votes.

St. Cloud State senior guard Gage Davis was the North Division Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight season. SMSU junior guard Ryan Bruggeman and Trevon Evans were named the South Division Co-Preseason Player of the Year. Bruggeman is the preseason favorite again for a second straight year.