The University of Minnesota Duluth downed the University of Mary 78-54 Friday night in Mary, N.D. The Bulldogs improve to 12-3 overall while going 7-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Marauders fall to 7-8 overall and carry a 2-7 NSIC record on the year.
 
The Bulldogs would shoot 50.0% (30-60) on the evening, grabbing 12 3-pointers, six steals, seven blocks and 39 rebounds. UMary would shoot35.0% (21-60), putting in 10 3-pointers, grabbing 32 rebounds with three steals and four blocks.
 
After winning the opening tipoff, senior forward Brandon Myer would open the scoring with a layup. Senior forward Alex Illikainen would follow with a layup of his own. Redshirt freshman Drew Blair would score a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Bulldogs up 7-2 and Illiakinen would follow with a layup of his own in the first four minutes. Blair would score a layup and draw a foul in the process, missing with the Marauders grabbing the rebound. The two squads would battle for possession before Illikainen would score his sixth points of the game just seven minutes in. The Bulldogs would get a quick steal with Myer scoring two off a pass from sophomore guard Hunter Plamann. Plamann would drain a 3-pointer to cancel out the 3-pointer from UMary's side. After the sides would go back and forth on possessions, the Marauders would score two to pull to nine, with UMD following with a 3-pointer of their own from freshman guard Jack Middleton. Senior guard Logan Rohrscheib would follow with one of his own. With four minutes to go in the half, the Bulldogs were ahead 28-16 before a media timeout would be called. The Marauders would score six straight points before causing a foul leading to two free throws, both made, to Myer. UMary would score a 3-pointer to close out the scoring in the first half, UMD up 30-25.
 
Illikainen would score first in the second half on a pass from Myer to which UMary would respond with one of their own. Rohrscheib drained on for himself to put UMD up 36-28 in the opening two minutes. Senior guard Trevor Entwisle would drain two of his own to give the Bulldogs a 10-point lead, 40-32. After UMD grabbed a 44-30, a media timeout would be called with 13:14 remaining. Out of the timeout, Blair would score four right off the bat and Myer would follow with two of his own. Rohrscheib would drain another 3-pointer to follow, with Myer scoring a short jumper for two. The teams would battle for possession, trading points back and forth. Going into a media timeout, UMD would lead 58-40 with 8:24 remaining, before Blair would drain two free throws. The two sides would go scoreless until the Entwisle would score a 3-pointer at 6:10 remaining. Rohrscheib would follow with another 3-pointer. Blair would draw a foul and score both free throws, putting UMD up 68-44 before Entwisle would drain another 3-pointer. The Bulldogs would take a 71-47 lead into the final media timeout. The Bulldogs would tack on four more points taking a 75-52 lead with under 30 second left in the game. Freshman guard Charles Gorres would score a deep 3-pointer for UMD, the final basket that the Bulldogs would score, finishing out the game 78-54.
 
Gorres would finish with five points and two blocks. Plamann would score one 3-pointer, grabbing one rebound with three assists. Entwisle would score eight, grabbing six rebounds and three assists. Blair would score 11 with one 3-pointer, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Illikainen would score 14 in the win, grabbing seven rebounds with three assist and one steal. Myer scored 14 with nine rebounds, two blocks, two steals, five assists and a 60.0% (6-10) from the floor. Rohrscheib scored 19 in the effort, grabbing three rebounds with an assist and a steal.
 
The Bulldogs continue their road show, heading to Minot, N.D. to square off against Minot State University on Satuday  at 5:30 p.m.