DULUTH, Minn. - Max Bjorklund, Max Weisbrod, and Brian Parzych combined for 71 points in the Wildcats' 90-76 road victory over No. 14 Minnesota Duluth on Sunday. 

Bjorklund led the way with 26 points on 9-18 shooting. Weisbrod added 23 off the bench, shooting 5-6 from the field, 4-5 from three, and 9-9 from the FT line. Weisbrod also led the team with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Brian Parzych chipped in 22 on an 8-15 shooting clip. 

The Wildcats (5-2) were 18-19 (94.7%) from the free-throw line. NMU also led the way on the glass, 32-23. 


First Half
Each side utilized different areas of the floor to get their scoring early, as UMD got their first 14 points in the paint, while the Wildcats had two triples from Brian Parzych and opted for the midrange and shots beyond the arc. The game was all tied at 14 eight minutes into the contest. 

After the Bulldogs broke down the Wildcats' defense for an easy dunk, Parzych found some space at the top of the key and splashed in his third triple at the halfway point of the opening half as the teams continued back-and-forth play. A Dylan Kuehl putback gave NMU their first lead at 21-19 with nine minutes to play. 

It was a story of guards knocking down triples for the Wildcats in the first half, as after Brian Parzych hit three in the first 10 minutes, and Max Weisbrod took over to close the half, connecting on four straight from beyond the arc. To start, he was fouled a few feet beyond the arc, as he poured in a triple and converted on a 4-point play. He then hit three more over a couple-minute stretch, capped off by a heat check a few feet past the line for a 34-26 lead with just over 5 minutes remaining. 

In the final few minutes, Carson Smith and Max Bjorklund got in on the 3-point barrage, as NMU was a sizzling 9-14 from deep in the opening 20 minutes to keep them ahead 46-42. The Bulldogs stayed close with dominant play in the paint, as they scored 28 of their 42 down low. 

Max Weisbrod led NMU with 15 points on 5-6 shooting. Austin Andrews had 18 for UMD, shooting 7-9 from the floor. 


Second Half
Minnesota Duluth's defense forced the Wildcats into a couple of early turnovers in the half, as they tied it up at 50-50. The Wildcats weathered the adversity, scoring the next four to go up 54-50 at the first media timeout of the half. 

The Bulldogs got the Wildcats in foul trouble quickly, getting to the bonus less than halfway through the 2nd half, with several trips to the charity stripe. Defensive efforts from Dylan Kuehl and triples from Max Bjorklund kept the Wildcats in front 66-59 with 7:54 to play.

Brian Parzych converted a big and-one to go up 76-68 with just over three minutes to play. The Bulldogs answered it with five quick points and the score was 76-73 with two to play. 

A Bjorklund driving layup and a Parzych tough runner in the paint pushed the lead right back to eight at 82-74 with a minute to play. 

The Wildcats hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the road win, 90-76. 


Postgame Notes

• Three Wildcats scored 22+ points. Max Bjorklund led the way with 26 on 9-18 shooting. Max Weisbrod added 23, shooting 5-6, 4-5 from three, and 9-9 from the FT line. Weisbrod also led the team with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Brian Parzych chipped in 22 on an 8-15 clip. 
• NMU was 18-19 (94.7%) from the free-throw line. 
• The Wildcats outrebounded the bigger Bulldogs, 32-23. 
• Austin Andrews led the Bulldogs with 22 points. 

Up Next
The Wildcats will open up GLIAC play on Thursday, December 1 with a trip to Purdue Northwest. Tip-off will be at 8 p.m.