UMD Mens Hoops Split Over the Weekend

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

The University of Minnesota Duluth tipped off the 2019 regular season campaign with a thrilling 115-109 double-overtime upset over No. 9 Southern Nazarene University in the GAC/NSIC Crossover Classic at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Senior forward Brandon Myer, who was listed as a preseason Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player to Watch in the North Division, got the Bulldog offense rolling early with a seven-foot jumper from the short corner to give UMD an early 4-0 advantage. The Bulldogs (1-0 overall) would lead for almost all of the first nine minutes of a tight first half before a Southern Nazarene (1-2 overall) three-pointer would give the Crimson Storm a 19-18 lead. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair would pace the Bulldog offense with 11 points and three rebounds in the first half. As a team, UMD would shoot 15-for-33 (45.5%) in the first half. The Bulldogs controlled the glass early, outrebounding the Crimson Storm 17-14 in the first half, with six of the boards coming from the offensive end. Yet, it was the Crimson Storm, shooting 6-of-12 from the three-point line (50.0%), who took a 47-40 lead into the break.

Myer would get hot halfway through the second half by connecting on two consecutive jumpers and adding a pair of free throws would knot things back up at 62. The Bulldogs, who took advantage of 19 Crimson Storm turnovers, would take a 75-74 advantage with 3:47 remaining on a layup from senior forward Alex Illikanen. On the next possession, the Bulldog defense forced another turnover and senior guard Trever Entwisle converted it into another layup to give UMD a three-point lead. With 0:35 seconds remaining, Myer added another free throw to give UMD an 80-79 lead but with 30 seconds remaining Southern Nazarene added a layup to retake the lead. Senior guard Trent Entwisle would come in clutch ten seconds later by cashing in on a three-pointer to give UMD an 83-81 lead. The Crimson Storm would force overtime with a layup from Jhonathon Dunn to knot things up at 83 at the end of regulation.

In overtime, the Crimson Storm would take advantage of Myer and Illkanen fouling out to grab an 88-86 lead with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Yet, freshman guard Jack Middleton’s three from the right corner gave UMD a 89-88 lead. Senior guard Logan Rohrscheib’s three from the right corner pushed UMD’s lead to three with one minute to go. Blair would add another free throw with 0:27 to go to give UMD a 93-90 advantage. With 11 seconds to go and UMD up by two, Maik Bower hit a jumper from six-feet away at the buzzer to knot things up and force double overtime.

In double overtime, three straight three’s from Blair, Rohrscheib, and Middleton would give UMD a 106-98 lead en route to an 11-2 run with 2:30 remaining. Blair’s jumper from the foul line would ice the game and put the Bulldog’s up by seven with 1:25 left in the second overtime.

Notables: 
Myer would finish with a double-double on 29 points with 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%) and 10 boards … Blair would add another 27 points on 6-of-19 shooting (31.6%) but his 15-17 shooting from the charity stripe would help assure the Bulldogs of the upset victory … The Bulldogs field goal percentage of 50.0% (36-for-72) bested the Crimson Storm’s total of 46.8% (37-for-79) on the evening.

The University of Minnesota Duluth took on Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon in the battle of the upsets. UMD, after beating No. 9 Southern Nazarene on Friday, fell to SEOSU, who beat No. 15 Northern State on Friday, 95-86. The Bulldogs now are sitting 1-1 overall on the year, while the Savage Storm improve to 2-0.

UMD finished the day shooting 52.3% (34-65) from the floor, grabbing 25 rebounds as well as three blocks. SEOSU would finish shoot at 56.1% (32-57) from the floor, grabbing 30 rebounds.

The first half saw the Savage Storm get off to a quick start, scoring the first basket of the game from Kayo Goncalves. The Bulldogs matched that with a layup coming from senior forward Alex Illikainen to tie things back up. SEOSU found their footing shortly after and started to pick up a lead by scoring seven straight. UMD put down one fo their own to try to stop the momentum, but the Savage Storm would continue to pile on the points and gain their lead. From there on, the Bulldogs would battle and stay in as tight as they could with SEOSU, but the Savage Storm kept the pressure on UMD, not allowing the Bulldogs to find any momentum. The Savage Storm would finish the half by taking a 15 point lead, 42-27 into the locker room.

UMD would come out hungry in the second half, dropping a quick three from senior guard Trevor Entwisle. After trading point, the Bulldogs would satrt to chip away at the Savage Storm’s lead, going on a 16-3 run and cutting SEOSU’s lead from 15 down to just five. Redshirt freshman guard Drew Blair found a three later on, dropping the lead down to four before the Savage Storm were able to drain one of their own. UMD would keep in tight with SEOSU, going point for point and battling back to a three point deficit. The Savage Storm were able to find ground again and hop back out to an eight point lead. The Bulldogs would not be able to complete the comeback, falling to SEOSU despite outscoring them in the second half, 59-53.

Blair would finish the game dropping a match high 31, going 12-16 and putting down 6 three’s, grabbing three rebounds along the way. Senior forward brandon Myer would drop 17 in the effort, going 6-14 with 1-4 on three pointers and grabbing six rebounds. Entwisle would finish with 12 points, grabbing two rebounds and one steal. Illikainen would drop 14 in the effort, grabbing three rebounds.