UPDATE: The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs delivered an emphatic performance, overpowering UMary 80-65 in a crucial Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matchup at Romano Gym on Saturday. Center Noah Paulson led the charge with a game-high 20 points, dominating the paint as the Bulldogs outscored the Marauders 46-16 in that area.
The Bulldogs sprinted to an early lead, beginning the game with an impressive 11-2 run, showcasing their shooting prowess by hitting five of their first six attempts. By halftime, Minnesota Duluth maintained a substantial 44-32 advantage, shooting an outstanding 60% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. Paulson was instrumental, tallying 12 first-half points on an impressive 6-of-7 shooting.
With support from Daniel Molhoek, who contributed eight points in the first half, UMD established a commanding 28-8 lead in points scored in the paint. In contrast, UMary struggled, finishing the half with a shooting percentage of just 33.3%.
As the second half unfolded, the Bulldogs did not relent. Paulson and teammate Jackson Fowlkes ignited a quick 7-1 run, pushing UMD’s lead to 51-33. The Bulldogs continued to dominate, extending their lead to as much as 67-48 midway through the half. Despite a late surge from UMary, including a 7-1 run that closed the gap to 11 points with just over three minutes remaining, the Marauders could not complete the comeback.
Fowlkes also shone for the Bulldogs, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Caleb Siwek added 10 points to the tally. On the boards, Nick Katona led with eight rebounds alongside his seven points.
With this victory, Minnesota Duluth improved to a record of 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Bulldogs will take to the road for their next matchup against Bemidji State on January 3, 2023, where they will aim to continue their winning momentum.
Stay tuned for more updates as UMD looks to build on this strong performance.
