Minnesota Duluth shut the lights off and cranked the music up on Tuesday night at Romano Gymnasium.
Spotlights were used during pregame introductions, and the UMD men’s basketball team ran through the same inflatable Bulldog head the football team runs through before its games.
All the hype is in place, so now it’s time for the Bulldogs to produce, and produce they did in an 80-70 nonconference victory over Wisconsin-Superior before about 1,000 people.
“If you want people to show up, you’ve got to win, and we’re 3-0,” UMD coach Matt Bowen said. “We scored 80 points, and we had an alley oop. I hope that we’re entertaining to watch. I’m excited for the season, but I certainly know we can play better.”
Senior center Brett Ervin, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury, had a game-high 22 points, while first-year Bulldogs Pierre Newton and Brendon Pineda added 20 and 17 points, respectively.
UMD, an NCAA Division II scholarship program, effectively over-
powered DIII UWS. The Bulldogs held a 46-22 advantage in rebounding. Newton, who had to sit out last year after transferring from Nebraska-Kearney, had 13 rebounds, with most of his points coming via rebound put-backs. UMD (3-0) made 21 of 29 free throws compared to 7 of 8 for the Yellowjackets’ sole player to reach the line (1-1).
“The biggest difference between the DII and DIII levels is just the overall physicality,” UWS coach Paul Eberhardt said. “There isn’t anybody like Pierre I’ve seen at the Division III level. We won’t see another guy like that all year long. And a guy like Reece Zoelle, a guard, is 6-4, 200, and is strong. You give up something at each position. And if Ervin keeps playing like that, he has a legitimate shot at being the Northern Sun player of the year. He’s that good.”
The 6-foot-7 Ervin displayed every facet of his inside-outside game, posting guys up on the post, converting turnaround jumpers, fade away shots and 3-pointers.
UMD may have been fatigued from a weekend trip to Missouri to open the season, but that is the way Bowen wanted it. The Bulldogs even practiced Tuesday morning.
While the Bulldogs could have played better defensively, Ervin said give UWS credit. Both these teams expect to be improved. The Yellowjackets were arguably the fastest paced team in the WIAC last year and are even more high octane this year, earning an exhibition win at Division II Minnesota-Crookston last week followed by a season-opening win at St. Scholastica on Sunday.
And the Yellowjackets are balanced, with four players scoring in double figures against the Bulldogs: Brian Lindblom (17 points), Ty Ketz (14), Zach Schradle (12) and Caleb Burch (10).
“Our Missouri trip was long. It felt like we were there a week,” Ervin said. “So we were tired, but you have to expect a strong effort from UWS. This is the biggest game of the year for them. They’re a smaller team, but they’re going to battle. They’re scrappy. That is my fourth time playing them, and they never go away.”
MINNESOTA DULUTH 80, WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR 70
Wisconsin-Superior - Johnquez Brooks 3-10 0-0 8, Ty Ketz 5-13 0-0 14, Caleb Burch 4-10 0-0 10, Zach Schradle 2-5 7-8 12, Brian Lindblom 8-13 0-0 17, Cole Minnich 2-5 0-0 4, John Denny 0-2 0-0 0,, Victor Berezutchi 1-2 0-0 2, Taylor Mattison 0-2 0-0 0, Marquise Slay 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 26-63 7-8 70. Minnesota Duluth - Justin Byrd 2-3 3-3 7, Pierre Newton 7-13 6-8 20, Reece Zoelle 2-7 4-7 8, Brendon Pineda 8-9 1-2 17, Brett Ervin 7-15 7-9 22, Kyle Schalow 1-3 0-0 2, Treyton Daniels 0-1 0-0 0, Taylor Lavery 1-4 0-0 2, Charles Benson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 29-56 21-29 80. Halftime - UMD 43-32. 3-point goals - UWS 11-26 (Brooks 2-4, Ketz 4-7, Burch 2-6, Schradle 1-2, Lindblomo 1-2, Minnich 0-2, Denny 0-1, Mattison 0-1, Slay 1-1), UMD 1-6 (Pineda 0-1, Ervin 1-2, Schalow 0-2, Lavery 0-1). Fouled out - none. Rebounds - UWS 22 (Schradle 6), UMD 46 (Newton 13). Assists - UWS 13 (Brooks 7), UMD 15 (Byrd 5). Total Fouls - UWS 16, UMD 12. A - 1,000 (estimated).
SAINTS EXPECT TO BE IMPROVED
St. Scholastica returns four starters and 11 players from a team that went 11-15 overall and 8-6 in the UMAC, including juniors Jake Naslund of Barnum and Andrew Laughlin of Duluth Central.
Mike Spoden of Grand Rapids and Nathan Carlson will lead the Saints interior while senior LaMonte Hall, junior Tyler Rosenberger and sophomore Julius Johnson lead an athletic backcourt.
David Staniger is in his 15th season as Saints coach. St. Scholastica opened with a pair of home losses last weekend, 70-66 to Luther on Saturday and 83-79 to UWS on Sunday.
Marc Peterson of Esko is among the freshmen who are already contributing, with 15 points through two games.
THUNDER HOPE TO BUILD OFF WIN
Fond du Lac opened with an 87-75 loss to Rainy River followed by a 70-69 victory over Wisconsin-Barron County after Kyle Gordon drained a 3-point shot with three seconds remaining.
Donald Gordon, DeAndre Bell and Kevin Gutter have been among the Thunder’s leaders in the early going.
Men's basketball schedule
MINNESOTA DULUTH BULLDOGS
Coach: Matt Bowen
Nov. 14 - vs. Lincoln (Mo.)
Nov. 15 - vs. Southwest Baptist
Nov. 18 - Wisconsin-Superior
Nov. 21 - Michigan Tech, 7 p.m.
Nov. 23 - Wisconsin-Parkside, 3 p.m.
Nov. 25 - at Northern Michigan, 7 p.m.
Nov. 29 - at St. Cloud State, 4 p.m.
Dec. 1 - at Green Bay, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5 - at Minnesota-Crookston, 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 - at Bemidji State, 6 p.m.
Dec. 12 - Northern State, 8 p.m.
Dec. 13 - Minnesota State-Moorhead, 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 - St. Cloud State, 4 p.m.
Jan. 2 - at Concordia-St. Paul, 8 p.m.
Jan. 3 - at Minnesota State-Mankato, 6 p.m.
Jan. 9 - Bemidji State, 8 p.m.
Jan. 10 - Minnesota-Crookston, 6 p.m.
Jan. 16 - Wayne (Neb.) State, 8 p.m.
Jan. 17 - Augustana, 6 p.m.
Jan. 23 - at Minot (N.D.) State, 8 p.m.
Jan. 24 - at Mary, 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 - at Sioux Falls, 8 p.m.
Jan. 31 - at Southwest Minnesota State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Upper Iowa, 8 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Winona State, 6 p.m.
Feb. 13 - at Minnesota State-Moorhead, 8 p.m.
Feb. 14 - at Northern State, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 - Mary, 8 p.m.
Feb. 21 - Minot (N.D.) State, 6 p.m.
ADVERTISEMENT
ST. SCHOLASTICA SAINTS
Coach: Dave Staniger
Nov. 15 - Luther
Nov. 16 - Wisconsin Superior
Nov. 21 - at Wartburg (Waverly), 8 p.m.
Nov. 22 - vs. Crown (Waverly), 2 p.m.
Nov. 22 - vs. Wisconsin-Superior (Waverly), 4 p.m.
Nov. 29 - vs. Wisconsin-River Falls (Superior), 6 p.m.
Nov. 30 - at Wisconsin-Superior, 5 p.m.
Dec. 6 - at Crossroads, 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 - at Finlandia, 3 p.m.
Dec. 29 - vs. St. Norbert (De Pere, Wis.), 7 p.m.
Dec. 30 - vs. John Carroll (De Pere), 5 p.m.
Dec. 30 - vs. Wisconsin-Stout (De Pere), 7 p.m.
Jan. 5 - Finlandia, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 10 - at Northland, 5 p.m.
Jan. 16 - Northwestern
Jan. 17 - North Central, 5 p.m.
Jan. 23 - at Crown, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 - at Minnesota-Morris, 5 p.m.
Jan. 30 - at Martin Luther, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 - at Bethany Lutheran, 5 p.m.
Feb. 3 - Northland, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6 - Minnesota-Morris, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Crown, 5 p.m.
Feb. 13 - at North Central, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 - at Northwestern, 5 p.m.
Feb. 20 - Bethany Lutheran, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 21 - Martin Luther, 5 p.m.
WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR YELLOWJACKETS
Coach: Paul Eberhardt
Nov. 16 - at St. Scholastica
Nov. 18 - at Minnesota Duluth
Nov. 21 - vs. Crown College (Waverly, Iowa), 6 p.m.
Nov. 22 - vs. St. Scholastica (Waverly), 2 p.m.
Nov. 22 - at Wartburg (Waverly) 4 p.m.
Nov. 25 - at Winona State, 8 p.m.
Nov. 29 - Northland College, 8 p.m.
Nov. 30 - St. Scholastica, 5 p.m.
Dec. 3 - Wisconsin-River Falls, 7 p.m.
Dec. 6 - at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 3 p.m.
Dec. 10 - at Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 - vs. Coe College (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.), 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 30 - vs. Luther College (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.), 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 - Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 3 p.m.
Jan. 7 - at Wisconsin-Whitewater, 7 p.m.
Jan. 10 - Wisconsin-La Crosse, 3 p.m.
Jan. 14 - Wisconsin-Platteville, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 - at Wisconsin-Stout, 3 p.m.
Jan. 24 - Wisconsin-Whitewater, 3 p.m.
Jan. 28 - at Wisconsin-River Falls, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 - at Wisconsin-Platteville, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 - Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 - at Wisconsin-La Crosse, 3 p.m.
Feb. 14 - at Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 3 p.m.
Feb. 18 - Wisconsin-Stout, 7 p.m.
Feb. 21 - Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 3 p.m.
