The University of Minnesota Duluth won their first game of the season 81-59, against the Winona State Warriors. This was also UMD's first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference win and their third straight opening game win since their loss to Central Missouri back in 2017. 

Tonight's lineup looked a lot different compared to the 2019-2020 team as the Bulldogs graduated 4 of their 5 starters from last year, but it didn't seem to matter as the Bulldogs held the lead for all but 14 seconds of the game. 

UMD started the game off hot from 3-point land. They drained 5 of 10 from beyond the arch in the first half and shot 53.8% (14-26) from the field. 

Their ability to switch on defensive matchups with a smaller lineup compared to last season seemed to pay off, holding WSU to 41.7% from the field and 16.7% on 3-pointers. The 

Bulldogs went into halftime with a 39-27 lead. 

UMD came into the second half shooting how they did in the first. Freshman guard Joshua Brown hit back to back 3-pointers to start off the second half in his first game in a

UMD uniform. The team as a whole made eight more 3-pointers in the second half.

Overall, UMD finished the game shooting 52% (13-25) on 3-pointers and 57.1% (28-49) on field goals. 

Three true freshmen started in this game: forward Charlie Katona, forward Austin Andrews and guard Joshua Brown. Freshman guard Zach Lea, also saw regular rotation minutes.

Sophomore guard Drew Blair, the only returning starter from last year's team, led the team with 27 points, shot 6-9 on 3-pointers and dished out 3 assists. Andrews finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Brown finished with 12 points and three rebounds. Katona finished with 10 points, three rebounds and an assist and sophomore guard Jack Middleton finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. 

UMD will play the Warriors again tomorrow night, January 3rd, at 4pm.