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UMD COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST EIGHTH-RANKED MANKATO

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Senior guard Jake Hottenstine.

Despite remaining highly competitive with conference-leading Minnesota State University-Mankato well into the second half, the University of Minnesota Duluth came up eight points short Saturday in a 73-65 defeat at Romano Gymnasium. The Bulldogs took a lead into halftime, but couldn't quite carry hot shooting from the first half into the latter frame.

On the strength of a balanced offensive attack, UMD turned in perhaps its most complete 20 minutes of the season in the first half. After trailing by seven in the middle portion of the first half, the Bulldogs employed a late push to grab a 37-36 lead at the break. UMD shot a combined 71 percent (a season-high for one half of play) from the floor in the first frame with senior guard Jake Hottenstine and junior post Brett Ervin dropping in nine points apiece.

MSU-Mankato shot 50 percent in the first half as the Bulldogs held their own on the glass and in the turnover battle against the first-place Mavericks, who have now reeled off nine straight wins.

UMD couldn't quite carry over the same level of play to the second half while the Mavericks showcased some of what has made them a nationally ranked team. Clinging to a 50-48 lead with 11 minutes to play, the Bulldog offense went cold from the floor and saw the Mavericks mount a 12-0 scoring run.  The offensive drought lasted nearly five minutes and dashed any hope of a UMD upset.

Senior center Erik Powers managed to double his career high with 10 points and the Bulldogs whittled the deficit to as few as five, but the Mavericks’ size was too much to overcome.

UMD will have a chance to halt its losing skid next weekend with a pair of road contests against the University of Mary and Minot State University.

Box Score

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