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

Alicia Tipcke WDIO

The sixth seeded University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s basketball team won their program’s first-ever NCAA Division II Central Regional title Tuesday defeating fifth seeded Southern Nazarene 62-52 in Maryville, Missouri.

UMD now becomes just the 13th Division II school in history to send both of their programs to the Elite Eight the same season. Prior to this year the UMD men’s team had never won a NCAA tournament game, they have now won three in a row.

Fighting for control early the Bulldogs shot to a 27-23 lead at halftime.

They came out in the second half strong, taking as much as a 15 point lead. Southern Nazarene kept it close crawling back within nine points.

The Bulldogs held on to earn a historic victory 62-52. UMD’s Joshua Brown, with nine points, broke 1,000 career points while redshirt senior guard Drew Blair led all scorers with 28 points.

“I came here four, four and a half years ago with Coach Wieck. Just about his day one was my day one and to be able to come this far and win this program’s first NCAA tournament game much less take it all the way to the Elite Eight is honestly so special. Feels so good right now, it’s honestly a huge buzz in Duluth right now with the woman as well,” exclaimed Blair.

UMD men's basketball's post game press conference: Charlie Katona (L), Drew Blair (M), head coach Justin Wieck (R).

CLICK THE VIDEO BOX BELOW FOR THE FULL POST-GAME ZOOM.

[anvplayer video=”5167624″ station=”998130″]

Now 26-9 the Bulldogs advance to their program’s first Elite Eight appearance. They trek to Evansville, Indiana for the quarterfinals Tuesday, March 21. For the full bracket, Click Here.

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