[BasketballAlum] Victory over UND

[gary holquist]

Bulldog Basketball Alumni and Friends:

We put together a solid 40 minutes of basketball Saturday in a win over 
the University of North Dakota.  We went in at half time ahead 40-26, 
built a lead as large as 24 points in the second half, and made free 
throws down the stretch to secure a victory 88-80.  The contest was 
very physical with many "cheap fouls."  We stood our ground, executed 
our systems, and frustrated UND.  Brian Sykora (6-7, 210 lbs, 
So-Bloomington, MN) recorded his seventh double-double of the season by 
scoring 27 points (11-15, 73.3%) and having 10 rebounds.  Jordan Nuness 
(6-3, 210 lbs, Sr-Eden Prairie, MN) had 18 points and 4 assists. 
"Spud" Schade (5-9, 175 lbs, So-Oshkosh, WI) had 16 points and was 7 
for 8 from the free throw line in the closing minutes of the game. 
Ryan Meissner (6-6, 190 lbs, Sr-Osseo, MN) played well defensively, 
made great hustle plays, and had 8 assists as well as 8 rebounds.  We 
out rebounded UND, turned it over only 11 times facing full court 
pressure the entire game, and 17 of our 28 baskets were assisted.  The 
big key in the win was the fact that we finally made some shots. 
Though we had a tough four-minute stretch again in the second half, we 
fought through it, maintaining our composure and the lead.  It should 
be noted that we got good play out of our two big post players.  Mark 
Bauch (7-0, 250 lbs, Sr-St Paul, MN) and Steve Jamnick (6-11, 275 lbs, 
So-Tower, MN) gave us a much needed post presence, while playing a 
combined 26 minutes.

The next game is Saturday against the University of South Dakota.  We 
had a good battle with USD two weeks ago in South Dakota.  We played 
well against their zone, found open shots against the match up, but 
only shot 39%, in a 10-point loss in which we lead for 30 minutes.  USD 
was the #1 ranked team in the country the first week of January, but 
have lost four games in the NCC.  They are still ranked #10 nationally, 
but only are in fourth place in the league-talk about a tough 
conference!  Saturday's game will be senior day, which will be the last 
time our three seniors will play at Romano Gymnasium.  All three will 
graduate this Spring.  Nuness will obtain a degree from the School of 
Business with a Marketing Major, Meissner will have a degree from the 
College of Liberal Arts with a Sociology Major, and Bauch will have a 
degree from the College of Education and Human Services with a 
Psychology Major.  All three have been excellent academic, athletic, 
and social representatives of what UMD Basketball stands for.

Go Bulldogs!


Gary W. Holquist
University of Minnesota Duluth
Head Men's Basketball Coach
218-726-6185