GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Freshman Troy Huff (Milwaukee, Wis.) led all players with 19 points and fellow classmate Josh Schuler (Urbana, Ohio) added 11 as the University of North Dakota men's basketball team (7-9) knocked off Minot State (8-12), 79-50, to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Fighting Sioux put the game away in the first half, racing out to a 47-24 lead at the break on the strength of 60.7 percent (17-for-28) shooting from the field and a stingy defense. UND held the Beavers to just a
25.7 percent clip (9-for-35) in the opening 20 minutes and improved that mark in the second half (21.2 percent, 7-for-33).
“I thought our energy and urgency was there again for the second game in a row, which was exciting to see,” UND head coach Brian Jones said. “Our defense was dialed in and it dictated what we were able to do on the offensive end.
“Our guys played hard, shared the ball well and played a consistent 40 minutes again. That is what we will have to continue to do with Great West play starting on Saturday against a good South Dakota squad.”
Huff finished 8-for-10 from the field for the game and all eight of his field goals were either dunks or layups as he made his way to the rim frequently in the contest.
The Sioux trailed only once when Nathaniel Packineau hit his second 3-pointer of the game to put the visitors ahead 11-9 just over five minutes into the contest.
UND would quickly reclaim the lead at 13-11 on a field goal by Brandon Brekke and never relinquish it again. Schuler capped a 12-4 with a 3-pointer at the 8:45 mark that would give the Sioux their first double-digit lead of the game at 27-17.
The lead would swell to 23 points at halftime thanks to a 13-2 run by the home team that Huff closed out with a nifty layup in the final minute of play.
With the Coyotes looming on Saturday, Jones was able to empty his bench midway through the second half and give his starters a rest going into league play.
The Beavers struggles continued from the field throughout the game as the Sioux held them to 23.5 percent shooting – a season low by a UND opponent.
Junior Patrick Mitchell (Des Moines, Iowa) led all players with 10 rebounds - nine of which he tallied in the opening 20 minutes of play as the Sioux held a 45-42 advantage on the glass. He equaled his career-highs with four blocks and four assists and added two steals to put together a nice all-around game.
Junior Mike Mathison (Walhalla, N.D.) logged a season-high 13 minutes, scoring four points and grabbing three rebounds. Sophomore Dan Stockdale (Sheboygan, Wis.) saw the most extensive playing time of the season and scored his first career points with a jumper in the lane in the closing minutes.
The Sioux will return to action on Saturday as part of a “Pack the House” promotion where the first 500 students will receive a foam fist and have a chance to win a free semester of tuition. The women's teams from both schools will open the doubleheader at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow.
– Go Sioux –
