GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Following a gritty, high-scoring win vs. Northern Colorado, North Dakota closes the regular season and looks to put the finishing touches on a playoff bid against Southern Utah on Saturday at 1 p.m. Alex Heinert and Ryan Kasowski will have the call on MidcoSN2 while the usual trio of Jack Michaels, Mike Berg, and Paul Ralston will handle the radio duties on the Home of Economy Radio Network.
 
This will be the 10th meeting between North Dakota and Southern Utah, with the Thunderbirds holding a slight 5-4 advantage in the series that dates back to 2007. After dropping four of the first five meetings, the series has shifted back UND's way since 2011. Over that span, the Hawks have claimed three of the five meetings, including a 45-23 win in 2016. UND is 2-2 against the T-Birds at the Alerus Center, with wins coming in the last two (2012 and 2016).
 
UND is 3-3 this season against ranked foes, picking up wins over No. 24/21 Sam Houston State, No. 12 UC Davis, and No. 9/9 Montana State while falling to No. 1/1 North Dakota State, No. 21/21 Eastern Washington, and No. 3/3 Weber State. The No. 12 ranking by UC Davis was the second-highest ranked opponent UND has defeated in the DI era at the time, only to be eclipsed by UND's most-recent win over No. 9/9 Montana State (No. 5 Sam Houston – 2018). 2019 marks the first time in UND's DI history that the Fighting Hawks have been ranked or receiving votes in at least one poll all season.
 
The Hawks can cap off the fifth perfect regular season since moving indoors to the Alerus Center in 2001 with a win on Saturday. (2003, 2004, 2007, 2016)
 
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