DULUTH, Minn. --- The Minnesota State men's basketball team fell to Minnesota Duluth in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament by the score of 88-68.

With the loss, MSU finishes its season with a 17-12 record. With the win, UMD improves to 21-8 and will now take on Upper Iowa in the second round of the NSIC Tournament on Sunday.

Both teams quickly put points on the board to open the first half as UMD held a 12-8 lead just four minutes in. The Bulldogs built a 20-10 lead with 13:01 to go in the half, but the Mavericks would cut their lead down to three points at 26-23 with 7:34 remaining in the first.

The Mavericks remained within a basket of the Bulldogs at 28-26 with 6:06 to go in the half, but UMD would end the half on a 16-7 run over the final six minutes of the half to take a 44-33 lead into the locker room.

Senior Trevor Moore led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, including a 4-of-6 showing from three point range. As a team, MSU shot 41.9% from the field in the first half.

Drew Blair led the Bulldogs in the first half with 15 points. As a team, UMD shot 58.1% from the field in the opening stanza.

The early minutes of the second half saw the mavericks cut UMD's lead to four points at 52-48 as sophomore Kyreese Willingham netted 11 points during MSU's 15-8 run over the first five minutes of the second half. The Bulldogs responded quickly and rebuilt their double-digit lead at 62-51 with 12:21 to go.

Minnesota Duluth would not look back the rest of the way as the Bulldogs led by as many as 25 points as UMD defeated the Mavericks 88-68.

Junior Malik Willingham notched 18 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, while Kyreese Willingham tallied 17 points. Moore finished with 16 points as well.

As a team, MSU shot 43.8% from the field. MSU also hauled in 30 rebounds and passed out 10 assists.

Charlie Katona led all scorers with 23 points, while Blair finished with 22 points.

As a unit, UMD shot 56.9% from the field, to go along with a 13-of-17 (.765) showing from the free throw line.