The No.11 ranked University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team opened up their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) schedule tonight, falling to the No.18 ranked Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs 79-66.

Final Score: UMD (66) - SMSU (79)

After falling behind 3-0, UMD collected eight unanswered points with 18:55 left in the first half, culminating in a bucket from Brown, to take an 8-3 lead. The Bulldogs then surrendered that lead and were out-scored 30-22 throughout the final 15 minutes to enter halftime down 33-30.

SMSU kept widening its lead after intermission, constructing a 58-53 advantage before UMD went on a 5-0 run, finished off by Brown's three, to even the score at 58 all with 6:29 to go in the contest. The Bulldogs could not turn their rally into a victory, as the Mustangs outscored them 21-8 the rest of the way to hand UMD the 79-66 loss. The Bulldogs shot well from three-point range in the second half, hitting five shots from deep to score 15 of their 36 points.

Bulldog Notes vs. SMSU

The Bulldogs had three players score in double figures, led by Charlie Katona, who had 18 points and seven rebounds. Joshua Brown tacked on 15 points, a game high nine rebounds and four assists and Caleb Siwek helped out with 10 points and two steals.

UMD out-rebounded the SMSU 39-37 and, led by Brown's four offensive rebounds, did a great job crashing the offensive glass and pulling down 13 offensive boards that resulted in 10 second chance points.

Looking Ahead

Bulldog men's basketball heads to Sioux Falls, SD., to finish out the weekend with a matchup against the University of Sioux Falls Cougars tomorrow. Tip-off against the Cougars is currently set for 5:30 PM.