UMD Men's Basketball Wins NSIC Championship

Bulldogs defeat top-seeded St. Cloud State to claim first conference title since 2003

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men's basketball team defeated top-seeded St. Cloud State 78-72 to win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) championship on Tuesday. The sixth-seeded Bulldogs shot over 50% from the field and 60% from three-point range in the first half to build an 11-point lead, which they were able to hold onto in the second half. UMD guard Caleb Siwek scored a career-high 34 points, including 6 three-pointers, to lead the Bulldogs to victory.

Why it matters

This is a significant accomplishment for the UMD men's basketball program, as it marks their first NSIC championship since 2003. The win also secures an automatic bid for UMD to the NCAA Tournament, giving them a chance to compete for a national title.

The details

The Bulldogs shot an impressive 44% from the field and 47% from three-point range in the game, led by Caleb Siwek's career-high 34 points. Teammate Kole Hanson also contributed 18 points to the winning effort. UMD was able to build an 11-point lead at halftime and then hold off a second-half comeback attempt by the top-seeded Huskies to claim the conference championship.

  • The NSIC championship game was played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
  • UMD last won the NSIC title in 2003.

The players

Caleb Siwek

A guard for the UMD Bulldogs who scored a career-high 34 points in the NSIC championship game, including 6 three-pointers.

Kole Hanson

A player for the UMD Bulldogs who scored 18 points in the NSIC championship game.

Justin Wieck

The head coach of the UMD Bulldogs men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge accomplishment for our program and we're excited to be heading to the NCAA Tournament.”

— Justin Wieck, Head Coach, UMD Men's Basketball (wdio.com)

What’s next

UMD will now await their seeding and opponent for the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced in the coming days.

The takeaway

The UMD men's basketball team's NSIC championship victory is a testament to their hard work and perseverance throughout the season. The Bulldogs' impressive shooting performance and balanced scoring attack proved to be the difference in the title game, and they will now have the opportunity to compete for a national championship in the NCAA Tournament.