The University of Minnesota Duluth traveled to Moorhead, Minn., on Friday evening to top the Minnesota State University-Moorhead Dragons 77-70. The Bulldogs improve to 15-4 on the year while going 10-3 against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponents. The Dragons now carry a 11-8 overall record while going 7-6 in the NSIC.
 
UMD would shoot 45.6% (26-57) from the floor, shooting 40.9% (9-22) from 3-point range, 94.1% (16-17) from the charity stripe, grabbing 34 rebounds and five steals. The Dragons would shoot 44.8% (26-58) from the floor, 28.6% (6-21) from beyond the arc, 60% (12-20) from the stripe, grabbing 35 rebounds and four steals.
 
The Bulldogs would score first with a deep 3-pointer, following with a short jumper and a 5-0 lead before the Dragons would score their first points on an in tight jumper. MSU-M would tie things at seven a side after draining a 3-pointer. The squads would take a 9-9 tie headed into the first media timeout. The teams would trade baskets with UMD retaking the lead at 16-15 with just over 12 minutes left in the half. The lead would switch back and forth before the next media timeout with 9:53 left, UMD up 18-17. The Bulldogs would extend their lead out of the timeout with a short jumper. Senior guard Logan Rohrscheib would score a deep 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 24-19 lead just before senior forward Alex Illikainen would drain a three of his own. MSU-M would score five straight points to trail by three. Senior forward Brandon Myer would be fouled beyond the arc, draining all three free throws, followed by a Myer dunk to give the Bulldogs an eight point 32-24 lead with just over five minutes remaining. The Dragons would take a timeout with just over three minutes remaining, Bulldogs leading 34-27. Rohrscheib would score a deep 3-pointer, drawing a foul in the process and draining the free-throw for a 4-point play. UMD would take a 43-31 lead into the halftime.
 
The Bulldogs opened scoring in the second half, with the teams trading a basket a side, UMD scoring an extra one from Myer to go up 14, 47-34. The Dragons would chip away and score four straight before Myer would score his third basket of the quarter, putting the Bulldogs up 50-37 with 16:42 left. UMD would take a 54-43 lead into the first media timeout, 14:51 remaining. MSU-M would score out of the break, with the teams trading misses. The Dragons would score a 3-pointer to trail by six, 54-48, with 12:55 remaining. UMD would take a timeout with 11:53. Sophomore guard Mason Steffen would put a layup in, drawing a foul in the process and scoring it to complete the 3-point play. Illikainen would drain a 3-pointer leading into the media timeout, UMD up 60-50 with 9:50 remaining. MSU-M would score a quick basket, and find a foul on the following drive. The Dragons would miss the opportunity to capitalize, Illikainen would score one off the rebound to put the Bulldogs up 10. MSU-M would put up nine straight to trail 62-59 with 6:45 remaining. They would tie things up with 6:00 left on the clock at 62 a side. Redshirt freshman Drew Blair would give UMD the lead back with a layup just seconds later. The Dragons would take the lead their way with a deep 3-pointer. Rohrscheib would grab the lead back with a tree of his own. Myer would draw a foul heading into the final media timeout, UMD leading 67-65 with 2:59 left, scoring both before the Dragons would score a 3-pointer to pull within one, 69-68 with the Bulldogs taking a timeout. Myer would score out of the timeout, giving UMD a 71-68 lead with a minute left on the clock. The Dragons would score a layup to pull within three within the final 30 seconds. Senior guard Trevor Entwisle would draw a foul and score both shots. UMD would cruise to through the final seconds, beating the Dragons 77-70.
 
Blair would finish with 12 points, grabbing six rebounds, one assist and went 6-13 from the floor. Illikainen would score 14 in the win, grabbing four rebounds, one block and shot 6-12 from the floor. Rohrscheib would drain 18 in the win, grabbing a steal with two rebounds, two assists and five 3-pointers. Myer would score 26 in the win, grabbing seven boards, one steal, going 10-11 from the free throw line and 7-15 from the floor.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow evening in Aberdeen, SD, to square off against Northern State at 6 PM.