The University of Minnesota Duluth blew out the University of Mary in a wire-to-wire victory, 72-50. The Bulldogs improve to 2-0 on the season, while UMary falls to 1-4.

UMD came out ready to play right out of the gates after not playing for two weeks due to COVID-19 protocols. They did it by playing great defense where they double teamed in the post and then would rotate to close out on the 3-point line, holding the Marauders to 15.8% (3-19) from the 3-point line in the first half. UMD had all the momentum after sophomore Drew Blair hit back-to-back 3-pointers right before the break, giving UMD a 37-19 lead going into halftime. 

The Bulldogs came out of the half hitting on all cylinders and never let the Marauders back within 16 points. More notably, UMD held UMary's top leading scorers junior guard Trever Kaiser and senior forward Matthew Kreklow to 12 points and 3 points respectively. 

The Bulldogs starting lineup consisted of all underclassmen with four true freshmen (guard Joshua Brown, forward Austin Andrews, forward Charlie Katona and guard Zach Lea) and one redshirt sophomore (guard Drew Blair).

Overall, UMD shot 49.2% (29-59) from the field, 36% (9-25) on 3-pointers and had 34 points in the paint. They held the Marauders to only 28.8% (17-59) from the field and 17.2% (5-29) on 3-pointers. 

Blair led UMD tonight with 20 points, four rebounds and five assists. Brown finished with 16 points, 4-9 on 3-pointers, 12 rebounds and three assists. Andrews finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and one block and Katona finished with 11 points, five rebounds and one block.

They will look for the weekend sweep against UMary tomorrow (Jan. 16) at 4pm back in Romano Gymnasium.