The University of Minnesota Duluth Men's basketball program topped Winona State University on Saturday evening, coming back from a 16-point deficit to beat the Warriors 76-72. The Bulldogs are 22-8, continuing in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Sanford Health Tournament, while Winona State University's season comes to an end with an 18-12 record on the year.
 
The Bulldogs would shoot 50.0% (27-54) on the night, grabbing 31 rebounds with 17 assists. The Warriors would finish with a 42.9% (27-63) from the floor, grabbing 35 rebounds and 12 assists.
 
The Warriors would strike first on a shot in tight for a quick two just under a minute into the contest. Senior forward Alex Illikainen would score first for the Bulldogs with a shot in tight, tying things just over two minutes in. WSU would find momentum early headlining into a media timeout, carrying a 12-4 lead with 13:35 remaining. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair would go one for two on free throws out of the break but follow shortly after with a layup. Headed into a second media timeout, UMD would trail 20-11. Illikainen would slam one home out of the break to bring the Bulldogs within seven. The Warriors would slowly gain back their lead grabbing a short jumper a shot from beyond the arc. UMD would trail by eight, 25-17 into a third media timeout. Senior forward Brandon Myer would hit his first two out of the break, but the Warriors would respond with a bucket from deep. Myer nailed a deep shot for three to pull within five. The sides would battle for possession with WSU taking a 13-point lead with just under 90 seconds in the half. UMD would try to find momentum heading into half and would cut the lead to 11, trailing 40-29.
 
Illikainen would head into the half with 13 points, grabbing two rebounds. Myer would score five with four rebounds. Blair had six points with three rebounds and one assist.
 
Scoring wouldn't ensue until the Warriors scored a short jumper, but senior guard Logan Rohrschieb responded shortly with a deep three. The Bulldogs would try to find momentum, with Blair hitting a deep shot beyond the arc just before a media timeout. UMD would cut the lead to six at 48-42 after five minutes of play in the second half.  Illikainen dropped a tip in layup out of the break. Heading into a media timeout, UMD would trail 54-47 with 13:03 remaining. UMD would cut the lead to five with just over 11 minutes in the game, taikling 56-51. The Warriors would find momentum and regain a 7-point lead with just under 10 minutes in the half. WSU would score a quick four points to a 12-point lead, with the Bulldogs calling a timeout with 7:39 remaining. The Warriors would hold an 8-point lead headed into media timeout 69-61 with 4:28 remaining. Senior guard Trevor Entwisle would hit a deep bucket to cut the lead to five with Myer putting in a layup to bring UMD within three. Myer would hit a short jumper, but WSU would draw a foul and take to the line. The Warriors would miss the shot and Entwisle would take advantage, grabbing the lead with a three with just over 30 second on the clock. UMD would finish the fight with a 76-72 win, moving on to the semi-finals of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament.
 
Illikainen finished with 17 points, grabbing seven rebounds and one assist. Rohrschieb finished with 14, grabbing four rebounds with one assist. Blair would score 16, grabbing six rebounds with two assists and a steal. Myer scored 13 in the win, grabbing seven rebounds with four assists. Entwisle found eight points on the day, dishing four assists.
 
The Bulldogs move onto the Semi-Finals of the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament, playing the Minnesota State University Mavericks at 2:30 PM.