UMD men’s basketball earns 6th seed in NCAA Elite Eight

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s basketball team earned the sixth seed entering the NCAA Division II Central Regional tournament, and Tuesday night they walked out as regional champions.

The Bulldogs defeated Southern Nazarene 62-52 punching their program’s first-ever ticket to the Elite Eight.

“We’re playing together, we’re defending, we’re talking to each other,” junior forward Charlie Katona said. “We’re looking each other in the eyes. It’s just holding each and every person accountable and I think that’s what’s helped us progress and get to where we are in the postseason.”

“Duluth is becoming a basketball town, I think I said that here a couple days ago. How cool is it to have both of us winning Central Region titles in the same year? For our department and for our leadership,” head coach Justin Wieck said referring to the UMD women’s basketball team also earning an Elite Eight berth.

The UMD men also earned the sixth seed in the Elite Eight bracket, of which only one Regional top-seed earned a berth in Nova Southeastern.

UMD will tip-off the quarterfinals against third seeded Black Hills State Tuesday, March 21 in Evansville, Indiana. For the full bracket, Click Here.

RELATED STORY: UMD men’s basketball joins women in Elite Eight with program’s first Regional Final win.