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UMD OUTLASTED BY CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL 76-73 IN OT

Friday, January 18, 2013

Brett Ervin matched a career high with 27 points Friday against Concordia-St. Paul.

Junior center Brett Ervin matched a career-high with 27 points, but it was not enough to lift the University of Minnesota Duluth to a victory against Concordia University-St. Paul as the Bulldogs fell 76-73 in overtime. The Golden Bears tied the game on their final possession of regulation to force the extra session and grab their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory of the year. 

"[Ervin] again had a monster night and did some really good things that we’ve been working on," UMD head coach Matt Bowen said. "When he touches the ball in the paint we shoot the ball at an efficient clip. We just need some help."

Efficient shooting was a big part of a tightly contested first half on both sides with UMD and Concordia-St. Paul each shooting just under 50 percent from the floor. The Golden Bears took a 35-29 lead into the break by making all seven of their free throws and cashing in on four 3-pointers, including one as time expired.

That six-point margin was quickly made up thanks in large part to Ervin, who heated up in the second half. The former NSIC Freshman of the Year made four of nine shots from the floor and added nine free throws (on 11 tries) for 17 points over the final 20 minutes of regulation. Trailing by three with under two minutes remaining in regulation, freshman guard Calahan Skogman knocked down a 3-pointer before Jake Hottenstine put UMD up by two on the ensuing possession before the Golden Bears tied the game with 17 seconds to play. 

UMD (4-11 overall; 2-9 NSIC) trailed through the entire overtime session after Concordia-St. Paul (3-12; 1-10) went up on a three-point play just over a minute into the period. Down three in the closing seconds the Bulldogs turned to Hottenstine (who finished with 15 points) but his deep 3-pointer went off the iron just before time expired. 

"Right now we are our own worst enemy. We just make too many mistakes to allow us to win basketball games in a league that is as closely contested as this one is," Bowen said. 

The Bulldogs wrap up the weekend Saturday evening against Minnesota State University-Mankato at Romano Gym. 

Box Score

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