UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYS WELL, BUT FALLS TO UNDEFEATED DULUTH

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team has had a Jekyll and Hyde start to the season.  They have looked really good in games and they have also struggled and the team showed up ready to play against the undefeated Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs but came up short in a 75-68 loss in an NSIC matchup played at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth.  

FIRST HALF –
UMC started the game with a lot of energy and played outstandingly.  The Golden Eagles trailed 2-0 when Leonard Dixon (Jr. Demascus, OR) and Ethan Channel (Jr. Beaverton, OR) made back-to-back three-pointers before Duluth made a free throw and Dixon responded with two more points on a layup for an 8-3 lead over two minutes into the game.  Duluth added a basket to get within a possession before UMC answered with another run.  Zen Goodridge (Jr. Orlando, FL) scored in the paint, Brian Sitzmann (Sr. Savage) added a layup, and Uzo Dibiamaka (Soph. Adelaide, Australia) added a basket for a 14-5 lead with 12:50 left in the half.  The teams exchanged baskets before Duluth went on a 12-0 run over a three-minute span to take a 19-16 lead halfway through the half.  UMC finally ended the Duluth run with a three-pointer from Dibiamaka and after a Duluth basket, Siztmann buried a three-pointer for a 22-21 Golden Eagle lead with 8:10 to go in the half.  Duluth answered with a 9-0 run to take a 30-22 lead.  The teams would play even the rest of the half and Duluth took a 37-28 lead into halftime. 

SECOND HALF –
Duluth took a 12 point (42-30) lead less than a minute into the second half before UMC chipped away with an 8-2 run with two Sitzmann free throws and back-to-back three-pointers from Channel to get within a 42-36 deficit. UMC continued to chip away at the deficit and halfway through the half got within four points (52-48).  After a Channel basket, UMC was within three points (58-55) with under seven minutes to go in the game. Duluth scored in the paint before Channel buried another three-pointer and less than a minute later he scored on a layup to tie the game at 60 with 4:19 to go.  The game was tied at 62 when Duluth had back-to-back baskets for a 66-62 lead, but UMC would get any closer as Duluth held on for the 75-68 victory. 

UMC drops to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC and will host the Northern State Wolves on Friday.  UMD improves to 9-0 on the year and 3-0 in the NSIC.