The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team got behind out of the gates, and every time they seemed to be back within striking distance, the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs came up with big baskets and pulled away for a 99-86 victory in an NSIC game played at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth.
FIRST HALF –
Duluth had a great start to the game with a pair of baskets followed by a three-pointer for a 7-0 lead. Crookston got a basket only to have the Bulldogs answer with two more baskets, including a dunk for an 11-2 lead, forcing UMC to call a timeout. The Golden Eagles stopped the run with an Alijah Washington (Jr. San Jose, CA) layup. After two Duluth free throws, Crookston’s Hunter Lorenson (Soph. Lake City) made a free throw and Donez Lindsey (Fresh. Stockton, CA) made three to cut the deficit 13-8 five minutes into the game.
Duluth built a 24-12 lead before Crookston’s offense caught fire. Kazadi Mukoma (Jr. Grand Island, Neb) buried a three-pointer, Spencer Swenson (Fresh. Sauk Rapids) made two free throws, and Washington added a layup, and all of a sudden the Golden Eagles trailed 24-19 halfway through the half.
The teams exchanged baskets and Duluth led 33-21 before Crookston scored eight straight points with a J.D. Roberts (Jr. Parkville, MO) three-pointer, a Lindsey basket, and a Braydon Carlson (Soph. Woodbury) three-pointer to get within a 33-29 deficit. Duluth outscored Crookston 15 to 12 in the final four minutes of the half and took a 48-41 lead into halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Duluth had a strong start to the second half with a 9-2 run for a 57-43 lead two minutes into the half. Crookston stopped the run with back-to-back three-pointers from Lindsey and Landon Dimler (Soph. Mankato) to get within a 57-49 deficit. Duluth built a 74-57 lead before Crookston’s Washington made two free throws, Swenson made a layup, and Mukoma buried a three-pointer to get within a 74-64 deficit halfway through the half. The teams exchanged baskets the rest of the game and every time Crookston seemed like they were starting a run, Duluth bounced back and answered and won the game 99-86.
UMC drops to 1-6 on the year and 0-2 in the NSIC and will host Bemidji State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Minnesota Duluth improves to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 41 | 45 | 86 |
| Duluth | 48 | 51 | 99 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals/Blocks |
| Alijah Washington | 22 | 5 | 1 steal/1 block |
| Kazadi Mukoba Jr. | 13 | 4 | 1 block |
| Donez Lindsay | 12 | 2 | 5 assists/2 steals |
| Spencer Swenson | 11 | 9 | 1 steal/1 block |
| Landon Dimler | 11 | 6 | 1 steal |
| Braydon Carlson | 7 | 1 | |
| Hunter Lorenson | 5 | 1 | 1 assist/1 block |
| J.D. Roberts | 3 | 2 | |
| Quincy Everson | 2 | 1 | 2 assists/1 steal |
