WAYNE, Neb. — The No. 9 Minnesota Duluth men's basketball team racked up 54 second-half points to pull away from Wayne State 91-83 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Saturday.
The victory ended the Bulldogs' first two-game losing streak of the season.
WSC used a late push to lead 38-37 at halftime, but the Bulldogs took the lead for good early in the second half and iced it with a 10-1 run for a lead as large as 12.
The Bulldogs made 16 of 28 field-goal attempts in the second half, including four 3-pointers, and knocked down 18 of 20 free throws.
Austin Andrews fell a rebound short of a double-double with a game-high 26 points and nine rebounds. Drew Blair added 20 and was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
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For Wayne (10-7, 7-4 NSIC), Justin Eagins and Jordan Janssen scored 19 points apiece.
UMD (17-2, 10-2 NSIC) returns to Romano Gym for the first of four consecutive home games on Friday vs. Southwest Minnesota State.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Olson leads weekend sweep
Minnesota Duluth made the decisive move in the fourth quarter and held off Wayne State on Saturday for a 69-65 NSIC win in Wayne, Nebraska.
The teams were tied at 28 at the half and at 52 after three quarters, but consecutive baskets from Brooke Olson (a three), Sarah Grow and Payton Kahl (another three) gave UMD a 63-56 lead with 4:20 to play.
Wayne closed to within three points a couple times down the stretch but the Bulldogs kept the Wildcats behind them to the finish.
Olson led UMD with 23 points and eight rebounds. Maesyn Theisen and Grow posted 14 points apiece.
For Wayne (7-10, 4-9 NSIC), Kylie Hammer posted a game-high 26 points.
UMD (14-4, 12-2 NSIC) hosts Southwest Minnesota State on Friday.
