BREAKING: Minnesota Duluth (UMD) staged a dramatic comeback in their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener, overcoming a double-digit deficit to defeat Bemidji State 77-67 at Romano Gym on November 28, 2023. The Bulldogs battled back from a rocky start, showcasing resilience that has fans buzzing.
UMD struggled early, starting the game just 2-for-10 from the field, allowing the Beavers to jump to a 12-6 lead. The situation worsened as Bemidji extended their advantage to 23-13 following two consecutive 3-pointers from Dominic Fairbanks, prompting an urgent timeout from UMD.
Facing a 26-13 deficit, the Bulldogs ignited a spectacular turnaround with a 13-1 scoring run, led by key contributions from Caleb Siwek and Kole Hanson. UMD narrowed the gap to just one point at 27-26 with five minutes remaining before halftime. The Bulldogs entered the break ahead 35-32, thanks to four clutch free throws from Owen Leach.
In the first half, Hanson led UMD with 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting, despite the team finishing at only 28.9% from the field (11-for-38) and 25% from three-point range (4-for-16).
The second half saw the teams exchange leads four times, but UMD regained control at 46-45 after a layup from Mattie Thompson. After the score tied at 48, UMD launched a decisive 10-0 run, capped by a Thompson 3-pointer, to pull ahead 58-48.
Bemidji State fought back to cut the deficit to 66-60 with five minutes remaining. However, UMD responded with an 11-4 scoring surge that established a commanding lead down the stretch. Siwek emerged as the standout performer, leading all scorers with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting. Hanson added 15 points while Thompson contributed 14.
The Bulldogs dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Beavers 45-32, with both Thompson and Nick Katona pulling down a team-high eight rebounds.
Next up for UMD (5-1) is a nonconference road matchup against Northern Michigan in Marquette, Michigan, on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if the Bulldogs can carry this momentum forward into their upcoming game. Stay tuned for more updates!
