GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Freshman Brandon Brekke (East Grand Forks, Minn.) scored a career-high 19 points, but his efforts could not combat a balanced-scoring attack by NJIT as the Highlanders defeated the Fighting Sioux, 59-52, on Saturday at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
Freshman Troy Huff (Milwaukee, Wis.) added 12 for the Sioux, but the Highlanders (14-13, 8-2 GWC) were able stretch out a one-point halftime advantage to as many as 13 in the second half to remain in second place in the Great West standings.
The Sioux could never get comfortable on their home court, shooting just 34 percent for the game (17-for-50), including a 4-for-21 effort from beyond the arc.
“I thought we showed a lot of resiliency again to get back in it, but we just could not get in a flow offensively the entire game,” UND head coach Brian Jones said. “We had good looks and ran our offense well at times, but nothing was falling.”
NJIT struggled from the floor as well, shooting 36.5 percent for the game (19-for-52), but its 13-point advantage was just large enough to hold off a late UND rally. Sioux freshman Jamal Webb (Buffalo, N.Y.) hit two free throws to cap a 12-3 run and make it a 53-50 contest with just over a minute to play.
But, that would be as close as the home team would get in the contest. UND had a chance to draw even closer after a NJIT turnover, but UND returned the favor, turning it over for the 19th time in the game.
“We had a chance there late and I was proud of our guys for not giving in when we were down 13, but you have to take better care of the basketball than we did,” Jones added. “This is another chance to grow though and our guys are still fighting and that is good to see.”
The Highlanders would hit four free throws in the final 15 seconds to dash the comeback chances and finish off the season sweep. The loss dropped the Sioux (13-14, 5-4 GWC) into a tie for third with rival South Dakota – a team UND has already beaten twice this season.
NJIT guard Lamar Kearse led a group of five Highlanders in double figures with 13 points and junior Isaiah Wilkerson scored all 11 of his points after the break. Reserve guard Arjun Ohri and starters Chris Flores and P.J. Miller each scored 10 for the visitors as well.
Brekke erased a six-point UND deficit late in the first half with back-to-back, three-point plays and freshman Aaron Anderson (Brookyln Park, Minn.) sealed an 11-2 run with a steal and layup. That spurt put UND ahead 23-20, but NJIT closed with the final four points of the half to take a 24-23 advantage.
NJIT opened the second half with five quick points to build its lead back to six and the Highlanders would never trail after the break.
Senior Chris Clausen (Adelaide, Australia) hit a 3-pointer from the corner five minutes into the half to trim UND's deficit to four, but the Highlanders built their first double-digit lead of the game with an 8-0 run.
Clausen finished with seven points and added five rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. Clausen's efforts on the glass helped the Sioux hold a 41-33 rebounding advantage. Brekke led all players with eight boards, while Webb added seven and four assists. He finished with nine points.
Brekke finished 7-for-8 from the free throw line, but the rest of the Sioux went just 6-for-14 from the stripe.
Clausen and classmate Derek Benter (Crosby, N.D.) will be honored prior to Monday night's contest against Chicago State as the two Sioux seniors will play their final home games at “The Betty”. The men's game will follow the women's Great West tilt that starts at 6 p.m.
– Go Sioux –
