Bulldogs men's basketball team celebrates becoming NSIC champions.
Credit: UMD Atheltics

Both Bulldog Men’s and Women’s basketball seasons have come to an end for the 2025-26 season, marking another great season for both teams. The two teams each made it to the national tournament, with the Men’s team ending their run in the Central Region Championship and the Women’s team advancing to the Elite Eight before being eliminated from the tournament.

The Bulldog Men’s Basketball team started out the season hot with a win against the UW-Superior Yellowjackets in a pre-season exhibition game, followed by three straight wins to begin their regular season. This run was broken by Michigan Tech at the 2025 American Family Insurance Classic; however, the Bulldogs did manage to secure a win against Lake Superior State University to close out the tournament. The Bulldogs conquered in the remainder of the season, earning 1st place in the North Division of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference(NSIC) and 5th place overall with a record of 13-9 within the conference.

This record was enough to earn them a spot in the NSIC Tournament, where they first took on Minot State University, winning 74-68. The Bulldogs then went on to win in a close match against Concordia St. Paul and were able to knock down Augustana State University as well to bring them to the NSIC Championship game. This matchup saw the Bulldogs take on the St. Cloud State Huskies, whom the Bulldogs had lost to previously in the season. This fact did not stop the Bulldogs, however, as they were able to take the win with guard Caleb Siwek putting up a season high 34 points to bring home the NSIC title and subsequently earning the Bulldogs a bid in the NCAA Basketball Championship.

The Bulldogs entered the tournament as an eight seed in the Central Region, meaning they were put up against the number one seed, Washburn University, for the first round. The Bulldogs fought hard in this matchup, securing a narrow lead right before the half that they carried into the last half of the game, coming out on top with a final score of 64-62. The next round saw a rematch between the Bulldogs and the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Huskies were hungry for revenge this game, garnering an eight-point lead at the half, but the Bulldogs would not let that get to them as they came back in the last half to conquer the Huskies yet again, advancing them to the Central Region Championship. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were no match against Oklahoma Baptist University, ending their season with a tough battle and a score of 76-80 to end their season.

The Bulldogs concluded their season with a 23-12 overall record with 13-9 within the NSIC. Caleb Siwek led the team in points, averaging 15.6 points per game, with Kole Hanson coming in second, averaging 14.9. The team averaged 77 points per game on average, outshooting their opponents, which averaged 70.7 points.

The Bulldogs women's basketball team celebrates becoming Central Region Champions.
Credit: UMD Athletics

The Bulldog Women’s team began their season with three consecutive pre-season exhibition wins. To start the regular season, the Bulldogs held a record of 1-2 before becoming seemingly unstoppable for a while with an eleven-game win streak. This streak was unfortunately broken by Minnesota State University, Mankato, despite the Bulldogs' best efforts. The Bulldogs lost only four more games the remainder of the regular season to bring their regular season record to 19-7.

Within the NSIC, the Bulldogs held a 17-5 record. This was enough to make them Northern Division champions and place them third overall in the conference. This accomplishment earned them a bye in the first round of the NSIC Tournament, bringing them to face the Winona State Warriors in the second round of the tournament. The Bulldogs had faced the Warriors earlier in the season, coming out with a narrow victory against them, and this matchup was no different. The Bulldogs kept the Warriors on their tail the whole game before a fourth-quarter surge brought the final score to 63-45, Bulldogs on top. The NSIC Championship game saw the Bulldogs take on Concordia St. Paul for the second time this season. Despite a standout 25-point performance from senior Myra Moorjani, the Bulldogs could not overcome the Golden Bears and ended up coming in second place in the NSIC.

Despite the Bulldogs falling in the NSIC Championship, they were selected as an 8-seed in the Central Region of the NCAA Basketball Championship. The first round saw a rematch between the Bulldogs and the number 1 seed MSU Mankato. Although the Mavericks handed the Bulldogs one of their few losses in the regular season, the Bulldogs handed the Mavericks their final loss of the season, coming out on top with a score of 72-63 to send the Bulldogs to the next round. This round matched the Bulldogs up with the University of Central Missouri, who were, unfortunately, no match for the Bulldogs as they stole the show, ending the game with a final score of 81-48. This win led the Bulldogs to the Central Region Championship and a rematch against the Concordia St. Paul Golden Bears. With the Bulldogs still hot from their win against Central Missouri, it is no surprise that the Bulldogs gave the Golden Bears a run for their money. The matchup ended up going into double overtime, where the Bulldogs locked in to finally overcome the Golden Bears 94-87, punching the Bulldogs' ticket to the Elite Eight.

Coming in as a 6 seed in the Elite Eight, the Bulldogs were paired up with the 3 seed Colorado Mesa. This being the Bulldogs' first appearance in the Elite Eight since their 2023 national runner-up season, the Bulldogs were fired up during this game. Unfortunately, their efforts fell short, and Colorado Mesa was able to outscore the Bulldogs 81-59, effectively ending the Bulldogs’ season.

The Bulldogs ended their season with a record of 23-9, with 17-5 within the NSIC. Myra Moorjani led the Bulldogs in scoring this season, averaging 13.5 points, followed by Claire Bjorge with 12.5, and Lexi Karge with 11.7 points on average. The team as a whole averaged 72.4 points per game compared to their opponents' average of 63.4 points.

Both Bulldog teams put up a season to be remembered, with both teams earning some deep tournament runs. The men’s team can use this season as a standard for how to win the conference championship and deal with tough matchups. The women’s team made it to the Elite Eight for just the 7th time in program history, which will definitely be remembered, and they might have made some new rivals through their 8-seed run through the bracket. Although there are no Bulldog national champions, both teams showed strength and resilience through this season that can be poured down for years to come.

2026 Bulldog Basketball Season Recap