Statesman

Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Laramie Carlson UMD senior Steve Duncan drives past a St. Cloud Huskie Friday night.

Media Credit: Laramie Carlson Sophomore Byron Ninham shoots against the Huskies Friday night.

This past weekend was an exciting one for sports fans. Both Friday and Saturday nights were filled with UMD basketball action, of both genders, and the weekend was topped off with Super Sunday. We'll skirt that issue for now and move on to hoops.

Friday night was a difficult night for the Men's Basketball team. The game didn't begin, or end, the way they had hoped. Slowly, as the game progressed, UMD found themselves falling behind Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) more and more until the deficit capped off at 20 points when halftime struck.

The halftime break must have been effective because the Bulldogs commanded the court in the later part of the second half, cutting their 20-point deficit down to eight with just over four minutes remaining. Sophomore guard Ryan Rasmussen put the team on his shoulders and literally carried them on his back throughout the night while he posted 41 points. Unfortunately, Rasmussen did all he could but it was too little and too late. The Bulldogs fell to SCSU 83-68.

Saturday night the Bulldogs got another chance to right the ship. This game was a tough one to swallow, and definitely a game this team didn't need. With the taste of a loss still lingering from the night before, the Bulldogs stormed the court and controlled most of the first half of the game. Aside from a 14-2 swell from the opposing St. Paul Concordia squad, the Bulldogs easily had the upper hand in the first part of the game. The score was 48-44 in UMD's favor at the half.

Foul trouble corrupted the UMD lead when Rasmussen found himself in a difficult spot following two quick fouls early in the second half. He wouldn't find his way back to the hardwood until seven minutes were remaining. Freshman forward Dylan Rodriguez put up 15 points and five boards before he fouled out with three minutes to go in the contest. Senior Steve Duncan came through in the clutch with two huge buckets late in the game.

With 50 seconds remaining, Duncan converted a three point play to give the Dogs a five point lead, 85-80. Concordia quickly countered with a three pointer, stole a misguided inbound pass, drew a foul and converted the extra bucket to take the lead. All of this within 20 seconds. That left the Bulldogs down by one with 30 seconds on the clock, but like the night before, it just wasn't enough time. UMD loses in an absolute heartbreaker 86-85.

"I liked everything I saw on Saturday. Like the second half on Friday, I liked it. Ryan [Rasmussen] has been playing very well lately, with 41 on Friday, but we needed him for the end of the game on Saturday. After four fouls, I sat him down because I knew I wanted him for the end of the game. I think that break messed up his rhythm. He got a couple looks at the end of the game, but they weren't successful. These losses aren't fun, but they're part of the game," Gary Holquist said, head coach of the boys basketball team.

The Bulldogs fall to 7-15 overall and head south to next weekend looking to shake this funk that has been following them around for weeks. Coach Holquist acknowledged the unfortunate losing streak, but reminds the fans that this is a year of rebirth for the Bulldogs.

"You know, we start three freshman and two sophomores. Last season, it was all about banging out wins. This season, we're hoping to improve as basketball players, and prepare us for the future. We committed to the youth, and we're going to stick with it and improve. The future bodes well," Holquist said.

The Bulldogs go head to head with the University of Minnesota Crookston and Minnesota State Moorhead. Both games are slated for an 8 p.m. tipoff.

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