DULUTH, Minn. – Second half struggles plagued the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team as they fell 71-47 to the University of Minnesota Duluth Saturday night at Romano Gymnasium in Duluth, Minn. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-8 (4-6 NSIC) with Saturday's loss. Minnesota Duluth improves to 8-8 (5-5 NSIC) and sweeps the season series over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles were led on the game by Tyler West, Jr. (Sr., G/F, Portland, Ore./Communications), who had 11 points and eight boards. Tim Lubke (Sr., G, St. Paul, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) came off the bench for eight points on 3-of-7 shooting. Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) added seven points and seven rebounds for UMC.

The Golden Eagles were 17-of-52 for 32.7 percent from the field and 8-of-21 for 38.1 percent from the field.

Minnesota Duluth was paced by 22 points and seven rebounds by Taylor Lavery on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from beyond the arc. Brett Ervin added 18 points and six rebounds, while Pierre Newton added 14 points. The Bulldogs were 24-of-47 from the field for 51.1 percent and 8-of-14 for 57.1 percent from beyond the arc.

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles battled in the first half but found themselves down 34-28 to UMD at the break. The Golden Eagles lone lead in the first half came by two points at the 12:12 mark.

The Golden Eagles looked to the shooting of Lubke in the first half, who was 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc for eight points. In addition to Lubke, Lucas Reller (Sr., G, Lead, S.D./Management) added six points, as did West, who tallied four rebounds. Redd added five points and five boards in the first-half.

UMC was 11-of-26 from the field for 42.3 percent and 5-of-13 for 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Minnesota Duluth was paced by 11 points from Lavery, including going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Ervin chipped in 10 points. The Bulldogs were 11-of-24 for 45.8 percent from the field and 5-of-7 for 71.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bulldogs would take a 39-32 lead early in the second half, following an Ervin basket. The Golden Eagles would cut into the lead with a John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) trey to make it 39-35 with 15:30 left, however Ervin would counter for UMD to get the lead back out to six at 41-35.

The Bulldogs would build their lead to 51-39 as UMC did not score for four minutes until West hit a three with 7:43 remaining to cut the lead to 51-42, but UMD was lifted by three treys from Lavery as they took a 64-42 lead over the Golden Eagles, signifying a 25-7 run over a 10-minute stretch of the second half for the Bulldogs.

Minnesota Duluth would come away with a 71-47 win over the Golden Eagles. UMC will return home to face Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University, Mankato next weekend.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern
Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).