The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team makes it rain threes at the end of the first half to power to a win over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) opponent, the Bemidji State University Beavers. 

Halftime: UMD (50) - BSU (38)

UMD started off the night locked in an offensive shootout with the Beavers, each team going bucket for bucket with each other. The Bulldogs would string together a few point runs, including one with back to back N. Katona threes, but would not go unanswered and the game would stay tied 30-30 through the first 16 minutes. With 3:51 left to go in the half, the Bulldogs would collect six three point shots and outscore BSU 20-8 to end the half and take a 12 point lead going into the intermission.

The Bulldogs shot 18-33 (54.5%) from the field, 10-17 (58.8%) from outside the arc, and 4-7 (57.1%) from the charity line to end the first half tonight. Six turnovers and six personal fouls for the Beavers through the first half would give the Bulldogs the opportunity to capitalize and take back the lead going into the second half.

Final Score: UMD (90) - BSU (71)

The energy few from the end of the first half would prove to carry over with the Bulldogs into the second. UMD would collect multiple four and six unanswered point runs, including another run of back to back threes by Blair and C. Katona. The offensive momentum combined with the strong lead they took in the first half would help them outscore the Beavers 40-33 throughout the half and secure their second win of the weekend.

UMD closed out the night shooting 34-62 (54.8%) from the field, 13-24 (54.2%) from three point range, and 9-16 (56.3%) from the free throw line. 13 turnovers and 16 personal fouls for the Beavers continuously shut down any offensive momentum, while the Bulldogs made good use of their ability to move the ball by tallying 17 assists and 42 points in the paint throughout the night.

Top Performers

Graduate student guard Jack Middleton walks away with the Player of the Game honors tonight after shooting 5-12 (41.7%) from the field, 5-10 (50%) from three point range, and 2-2 from the line for 17 points and accounting for four of the six three pointers in the final minutes of the first half. Graduate student guard Drew Blair led the scoring for the Bulldogs tonight after shooting 9-12 (75%) from the field, 3-5 (60%) from outside the arc, and 2-3 (66.7%) from the line for 23 points.

Looking Ahead

Men's basketball will return to Romano Gym for a rematch against No.5 MSU Mankato next week. The action for the Bulldogs will tip off on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 PM.