MANKATO, Minn.--North Dakota's improbable postseason run has come to an end.
The sixth-seeded Fighting Sioux were defeated 75-68 by fourth-seeded Nebraska-Omaha this afternoon in the North Central Conference Tournament championship game, ending UND's bid for an automatic bid into the NCAA postseason.
UND, which advanced to the conference title game for the first time since 2002, ends the season with a 15-15 record, a four-win improvement from last season.
The Sioux trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and went into the halftime break down by 11, but valiantly fought back to take the lead by the midway point of the second half.
Trailing 45-31 before the second half was five minutes old, the Sioux exploded for an 18-2 run to climb back into the game. Sophomore guard Travis Bledsoe (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) jump-started the burst with a three-pointer from the top of the key with 15:06 left, then his triple on a fast break with 10:08 remaining capped the run and gave the Sioux their first lead at 49-47.
But UNO's Mitch Albers, who had 17 points off the bench in yesterday's semifinal win over Minnesota State, calmly answered with six straight points, including a pair of fast break buckets that put UNO back on top by four with seven minutes left.
That stretch by Albers swung the momentum back in favor of the Mavs, who were able to put the game away with deadly-accurate free throw shooting. During a late five-minute stretch, the Mavericks made 14 straight free throws, preventing the Sioux from making one last run.
UNO went 86.5 percent (32-for-37) from the free throw line, while the Sioux countered with 93.3 percent (14-for-15).
Senior center Jerry Bennett scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Albers finished with 16 points and senior guard Michael Jenkins added 16.
UND was led by 20 points from senior forward Emmanuel Little (Chicago, Ill.) who was named to the all-tournament team. Bledsoe finished with 14 points and joined Little on the all-tourney team.
Senior guard Ervin Youmans added 13 points.
UNO shot 51.2 percent from the field despite making just one of 11 three-point attempts. The Sioux shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 34.8 percent from three point range.
Notes: UND's senior class of Josh Doyle (Bettendorf, Iowa), Jimmy Hoy (West Fargo, N.D.), Tyler Koenig (Fargo, N.D.), Emmanuel Little (Chicago, Ill.) and Ervin Youmans (Hobbs, N.M.) each played in their final game ... Youmans graduates as the school's all-time leader in career three-point accuracy (.451).
All-Tournament Team
Corey McIntosh, Augustana
Emmanuel Little, UND
Mitch Albers, Nebraska-Omaha
Travis Bledsoe, UND
Denny Johnston, Nebraska-Omaha
Tournament MVP: Jerry Bennett, Nebraska-Omaha
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