The University of Minnesota Duluth Men's basketball program bowed out of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Sanford Health Tournament with a loss to Minnesota State University 79-73. UMD finishes the tournament with a 2-1 record, bowing out in the Semifinals. The Bulldogs carry a 22-9 record on the year while the Mavericks improve to 17-14.
 
UMD would shoot 36.6% (26-71) from the field, making seven 3-pointers and grabbing 35 rebounds with 10 steals. MSU would finish with a 59.6% (31-52) from the floor, making nine 3-pointers and grabbing 41 rebounds with five steals.
 
Senior forward Alex Illikainen would drop the first point, making one of two free throws before the Mavericks hit a bucket from beyond the arc. Illikainen hit a shot from deep of his own to respond. The Bulldogs would take the lead with Illikainen scoring his second three and seventh point of the game less than four minutes in. Heading into a media timeout, the Bulldogs would trail MSU 19-13. Illikainen hit a layup with the Mavericks responding with one of their own. Scoring would slow into the second media timeout, MSU carrying a 23-17 lead with 9:09 remaining in the first half. The Mavericks would drain a 3-pointer out of the timeout with Illikainen scoring a layup to respond. MSU would score a layup with just over seven minutes on the board but Illikainen would yet again answer the call with another layup. Senior forward Brandon Myer scored a layup shortly after to pull UMD within seven but MSU would score one back. Heading into the final media timeout of the half, the Mavericks would hold a 37-23 lead. The Mavericks would score out of the timeout before senior guard Trevor Entwisle would draw a foul, making both shots. Illikainen would do the same, making one of two. Illikainen nailed a shot from downtown to follow, Myer would do the same on a nice dish from Entwisle with just under a minute remaining. Myer would draw a one and one, sinking the first. The Bulldogs would trail the Mavericks heading into half 39-33.
 
Illikainen would finish the half with 21 points, grabbing six rebounds. Myer would score 10, stealing three with three rebounds and a block. Entwisle scored two, dishing two assists with a steal. UMD finished the half shooting 35.3% (12-34) with four 3-pointers and a 62.5% (5-8) from the charity stripe.
 
MSU would open the scoring with a short jumper, drawing a foul a short time later and making both shots. Myer would score a short jumper to open scoring for the Bulldogs just seconds later. Myer drained another short jumper, but the Mavericks would hit a 3-pointer shortly after. Illikainen would drive the lane and hit an in tight hook to bring the Bulldogs back within six with just over 15 minutes left in the game. After MSU made a layup, Myer would hit a deep shot for three. UMD would trail 50-43 into the first media timeout. The Mavericks would hit a big three out of the break. Myer would respond with one of his own. UMD showed some solid passing that would lead to a layup but MSU hit another 3-pointer in response. Redshirt freshman Drew Blair drained a deep ball, but the Mavericks would go down and hit a layup. The Bulldogs would trail by eight headed into a media timeout, 62-54. MSU hit another short from range out of the break and followed it up with a layup. Myer would draw a one and one out of the break, making one of two. Headed into the final media timeout, UMD would trail by 11 with 5:29 remaining, 70-59. Myer scored a quick layup out of the break, but scoring would go quiet for a minute and a half before Myer would draw a foul and hit one. Entwisle would force a turnover and dish one to Illikainen who slammed it home and would draw an and one, making it. MSU would score a layup and draw an and one shortly after on the other end. Blair would drive and hit a layup within two minutes to pull within four, but the Mavericks would throw down a dunk shortly to follow. UMD was unable to take the lead and would ultimately fall to MSU 79-73.
 
Myer would finish the game with his 15th double-double of the year, scoring 30 points, grabbing 11 rebounds with one assist and five steals. Illikainen put in 29 points, grabbing nine rebounds with one assist. Blair scored nine in the effort, grabbing three rebounds with two steals and two assists. Entwisle finished with three points, dishing three assists and two steals on the day.
 
The Bulldogs will wait to see if they receive an at-large bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament.