The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team advanced to a 2-0 start in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) competition after putting up their highest scoring effort of the season in a 99-86 victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston.

The Bulldogs' best scoring effort of the season was led by a staggering career-high 24-point effort from Kole Hanson. In the outing, he shot 62.5% (5-8) from the field, 50% (2-4) from beyond the arc, and a near-perfect 80% (12-15) from the free throw line. Mattie Thompson scored just behind him with 17 points, going 7 of 10 (70%) from the field.

Entering the first half, the Bulldog offense came out firing on all cylinders in an 11-2 scoring run in the first four minutes. The run was highlighted by a breakaway pass from Jackson Fowlkes to Mattie Thompson for a deafening dunk to force the Golden Eagles' first timeout. Minnesota Crookston responded with a 10-4 run that included two steals to get back within three of the Bulldogs with 13:55 to go.

UMD did not sit idle as Daniel Molhoek, Noah Paulson, Caleb Siwek, and Hanson combined for an unanswered nine points to force a dominant 24-12 lead. With 11 minutes to go, the Golden Eagles remained a threat, responding with their own unanswered seven points in under two minutes to get back in at 24-19. The rest of the half saw the Bulldogs continue to hold a steady lead, not allowing Minnesota Crookston to come within four points. Wyatt McBeth sealed off the half in the final second with a layup to walk off the court with a 48-41 advantage over the Golden Eagles.

The second half saw the Bulldogs take charge, pulling out to a 76-64 lead in the first 10 minutes, with Hanson letting loose for 12 of the 28 points. With under ten minutes to go, UMD held firm to the lead with a 23-22 scoring run to finish the match at 99-86. Helping seal the last half was a near-perfect effort from the free-throw line by Hanson, going 12 of 15 (80%).

All in all, the team scored their highest amount of field goals (36), free throws (21), and total points (99) of the season. Overall, they shot 56.3% (36-64) in field goals, 33.3% (6-18) in three pointers, and 77.8% (21-27) from the free throw line. The Bulldogs combined to force 54 points in the paint against the Golden Eagles' 26.

The Bulldogs head out to face Minnesota State University Moorhead Saturday inside Nemzek Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.