GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A resilient Fighting Sioux men's basketball team nearly overcame a 17-point first-half deficit, at one point closing to within four, but was unable to complete the rally in a 71-61 non-conference loss to IPFW tonight at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

The Sioux fell to 2-2 on the season while the Mastadons even their record at 2-2.

UND struggled in the opening six minutes of the contest, making just one field goal, and the Mastadons took advantage, building a 12-2 cushion. The visitors came out blazing from the floor, making seven of their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc, and would increase their advantage to 17 points before the Sioux settled into the game.

UND matched its point total from the first 15 minutes in the closing four to only trail by 10 at the break, 40-30. True freshman Troy Huff (Milwaukee, Wis.) made it that way by burying a 3-pointer from just inside half court at the buzzer.

“I was really proud of the effort, especially in the second half,” UND head coach Brian Jones said. “This group listened to the adjustments we wanted to make at halftime.  Then, they came out and executed much better and it showed as we wore them down and made a nice run late.”

Senior captain Derek Benter's (Crosby, N.D.) first 3-pointer of the season cut the deficit to single digits for UND at 51-43 with just over 13 minutes remaining. The senior captain got the Sioux even closer with a pair of free throws that made it a 59-53 IPFW lead with six minutes left on the clock.

Freshman Aaron Anderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) sank a pair of free throws to pull the Sioux within four points with under two minutes to play, but the UND offense could not get any closer as the Mastadons sealed the win at the free-throw line.

Free throws were costly for the Sioux, who shot just 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the line compared to 79.3 percent (23-29) for the Mastadons.

Freshman guard Jamal Webb (Buffalo, N.Y.) led the Sioux with a season-high 15 points. He also added six rebounds and three steals, while connecting on half of UND's six three-pointers.

Benter added a season-high 11 points while junior Patrick Mitchell (Des Moines, Iowa) led all players with a season-high 10 rebounds. Huff finished with nine points.

IPFW boasted a balanced attack that featured four players in double figures, including 16 points from Ben Botts and 15 each from Zach Plackemeier and Trey McCorkle.

UND takes to the road on Saturday for a non-conference tilt at Northern Iowa. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m

– Go Sioux –