UMD Bulldogs Advance to NSIC Semifinals, Face Augustana in Rematch

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s basketball team secured their spot in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament Semifinals with a 75-71 victory over Concordia University St. Paul. The Bulldogs (20-9) will face second-seeded Augustana University (19-9) on Monday at 7:00 p.m. At the Sanford Pentagon, marking a rematch of an earlier contest won by the Vikings.

Bulldogs Claim NSIC North Division Title

UMD clinched the NSIC North Division title with a 13-9 record, earning their second division championship since the 2021-22 season. Under head coach Justin Wieck, the Bulldogs have a 10-5 record in the NSIC Tournament since the 2018-19 season, with their last championship appearance occurring in 2021-22.

All-Conference Recognition for UMD Players

Kole Hanson and Noah Paulson have been recognized for their outstanding performances this season. Hanson earned a selection to the All-Conference First Team, averaging 15.2 points, 1.2 steals, 1.5 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game. Paulson was selected to the All-Conference Second Team, averaging 12.7 points, 1.0 steals, and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Wieck’s Tenure and Team Strengths

Head Coach Justin Wieck is in his eighth season leading the Bulldogs, boasting an overall record of 142-58 and a 99-43 record in conference play. He has led the team to three NCAA II Tournament berths, including a run to the Elite Eight in the 2023-24 season.

The Bulldogs currently lead the NSIC in several statistical categories, including scoring margin (6.5), rebounding margin (2.7), combined opponent rebounds (32.9), and turnover margin (2.52). They are also third in scoring defense (71.8 avg/g). Individually, Kole Hanson ranks fifth in free throw percentage (86.5%).

Hanson and Siwek Lead Offensive Charge

Kole Hanson has been on a hot streak, scoring in double figures in 11 of his last 12 regular season games, including a career-high 32 points against St. Cloud State. Redshirt junior Caleb Siwek also demonstrated strong offensive performance, earning six straight double-digit point games early in the season.

Previous Matchup Against Augustana

UMD previously faced Augustana on February 17th, falling 96-84. In that contest, Kole Hanson led the Bulldogs with 28 points, although Caleb Siwek added 25. Augustana was highly efficient, shooting 70.37% from the field and 70% from beyond the arc in the second half.

Looking Ahead to the Semifinals

The Bulldogs will necessitate to contain Augustana’s NSIC South Division Player of the Year, Tameron Ferguson, who averages 20.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. The winner of the UMD-Augustana semifinal will advance to the NSIC Championship game.