UMD Men's Basketball Falls Short in Historic NSIC Opener, Losing 71-70 to Jamestown
The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team suffered a narrow defeat in their inaugural Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) game against the University of Jamestown, losing 71-70 with two time-expiring free throws. Despite a valiant effort, the Bulldogs couldn't secure the win.
Noah Paulson led the scoring charge for UMD, posting a career-high 28 points, including 61.5% (8-13) field goal accuracy, 91.7% (11-12) free throw shooting, and a single three-point shot. He also contributed one assist, one block, and seven rebounds (four offensive) for a dominant performance. Kole Hanson followed with 13 points.
The first half was a tight affair, with both teams trading points for the initial four minutes. Mattie Thompson's free throw sparked a 5-0 run, giving the Bulldogs an 11-6 lead. However, the Jimmies then went on an 11-4 run to take the lead at the 10-minute mark, which they maintained for the rest of the half. In the final ten minutes, Jamestown pulled away with a 24-13 run, hampered by the Bulldogs' poor three-point shooting, making only one of 12 attempts (8.3%).
The second half saw a strong comeback from UMD. Paulson, Jackson Fowlkes, Mattie Thompson, and Nick Katona combined for a 14-5 run, narrowing the gap to three points at 43-40. The Bulldogs then took control with a 27-24 run, tying the game with under two minutes to play. A crucial three-pointer from Hanson with a minute remaining seemed to seal the deal, but a late foul by Peyton Rogers gave Ford Okehi the game-winning free throws as time expired.
Overall, the team shot 37.7% (23-61) from the field, 29.4% (5-17) from beyond the arc, and 79.2% (19-24) from the free throw line. The Bulldogs' three-point shooting struggled, making only one of twelve attempts in the first half. Despite this, they still managed 35 rebounds, compared to Jamestown's 37, with Paulson and Katona each grabbing seven.
The Bulldogs will return to Romano Gymnasium on Thursday to host Minot State University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
