Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. - Despite winning the rebound battle and committing just nine turnovers, the Northern State Wolves could not overcome a hot first half by the host Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, falling 65-72 Saturday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball action.

NSU, which dropped its third straight for the first time this season, fell to 17-9 overall and 12-7 in the NSIC.  The Wolves retained their grasp on second pace in the NSIC North with three games remaining on the regular season slate.  UMD moved to 6-17 overall and 4-15 in the loop, snapping a five-game skid with Friday's win.

UMD used the long ball liberally in the first half, using three straight midway through the period to extend what was a two-point advantage into a double-digit lead with 7:37 left to play.  The Bulldogs were 5-for-10 from long range in the first half, while NSU was a cool 0-for-6.

The Wolves cut it to one with 1:37 left before the Bulldgos closed out the half with four straight to head into the break with a five-point edge.

NSU again cut it to a one-point affair just under four minutes gone in the second half, using a 6-2 run to begin the half.  The Bulldogs, however, had it back to a double-digit lead three minutes later and fended off every NSU rally the remainder of the night.

Senior point guard Geoffrey Firmin led the Wolves with 18 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field.  Fellow senior Dustin Tetzlaff added 13 points and seven board and now stands just 11 points shy of the 1,000 point plateau in his career.

Jordan Reetz tallied a game-high 20 points for the Bulldogs.

The Wolves remain on the road on Saturday for their final road contest of the season, taking on St. Cloud State in a battle of North Division leaders.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.