The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team fell to 5-2 overall after getting outpaced on the road by Northern Michigan University 79-53 in their final non-conference matchup.

Leading the effort for the Bulldogs was Jackson Fowlkes and Noah Paulson, both with 12 points each by the end. Fowlkes hit the most three-point shots with a 50% accuracy (2-4) while shooting 36.4% (4-11) from inside the arc. Paulson and Nick Katona each had a team-high seven rebounds, with Paulson securing two on offense.

Entering the first half, the Bulldogs earned an opening four unanswered points in the first three minutes, between an opening layup from Fowlkes and a set of free throws by Mattie Thompson.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, a back-and-forth scoring effort began as a Northern Michigan went on a 12-9 scoring run to force the Bulldog lead down to one with 11 minutes to go. From then on, the Wildcats muscled in front of the Bulldogs, totaling a 56.3% in three pointers and 51.7% from the field to force a 32-17 scoring run. UMD entered the halftime break down 44-30.

The second half saw UMD fall further behind at times, with the closest deficit of 11 points coming twice in the first three minutes. Northern Michigan outscored the Bulldogs 35-23 to seal a 79-53 final score.

All in all, the Bulldogs were less accurate than the Wildcats, shooting an overall 31.1% (19-61) from the field and 30% (6-20) from the three-point line. Meanwhile, Northern Michigan finished the outing with an even 50% (28-56 FG, 14-28 3PT)  from both inside and outside the arc. The biggest advantage for UMD was points off turnovers, with 10 to the Wildcats' three. The Bulldogs by the end found themselves as a unit outrebounded 42 to 32.

UMD resumes Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) competition back in Romano Gymnasium on Wednesday against the University of Minnesota Crookston. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.