The No.23 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team got back in action in the new year tonight with a 82-60 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) win over the University of Mary Marauders.

Halftime: UMD (42) - UM (29)

The Bulldogs would start off the game hot with Andrews putting together the first two buckets of the game. UMD would match every score of the Marauders with two buckets of their own throughout the first five minutes to jump out to an early 17-6 lead. Throughout the final 12 minutes, the Bulldogs would get 11 chances from the line to pad around their buckets from the field, outscoring UMary 25-28 in the final minutes of the half to keep the double digit lead going into the intermission.

UMD shot 14-26 (53.8%) from the field, 3-7 (42.9%) from outside the arc, and 11-18 (61.1%) from the charity stripe to close out the first half. The Bulldogs would find plenty of opportunities off of 13 UMary personal fouls and continue to show off their defense by holding the Marauders to 46.7% from the field and 0% from three point range throughout the first half. 

Final: UMD (82) - UM (60)

The Marauders looked to change the narrative going into the second half, getting eight unanswered points to start the second half. UMary would match their own buckets with free throw attempts while going back and forth with the Dogs in scoring, whittling down the lead to just three points with 11 minutes left. UMD would answer resoundingly, stringing together 17 unanswered points throughout the next seven minutes to skyrocket their lead back to double digits and go up 74-54 with four minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs would slow things down and outscore the Marauders 8-6 through the final three minutes to come away with the win.

The Bulldogs shot 29-55 (52.7%) from the field, 4-12 (33.3%) from three point range, and 20-29 (69.0%) from the free throw line to close out the night. Defensive strength from the Bulldogs, who collected seven blocks tonight compared to just one from the side of UMary, and foul woes for the Marauders would prove to be the keys to success for UMD to start off the new year with a conference win.

Top Performers

Tonight's Player of the Game goes to senior forward Lincoln Meister who shot a perfect 5-5 (100%) from the field for 11 points and collected eight rebounds and a game high four blocks. Graduate student guard Drew Blair topped the scoring for UMD, shooting 6-14 (42.9%) from the field for 18 points while collecting five rebounds and one assist.

Looking Ahead

Men's basketball will look to host the Minot State University Beavers tomorrow afternoon at Romano Gymnasium. Tip off for the Bulldogs will start at 3:30 PM.