OXFORD, Ohio – The University of North Dakota men's basketball team opened the 2020-21 season with an 81-67 loss at Miami on Wednesday afternoon from Oxford.
In the latest season opener for the Fighting Hawks since 1979, UND (0-1) welcomed four newcomers to the lineup and received points from eight-different players in the contest.
Redshirt sophomore transfer Caleb Nero led UND with 16 points in his first game with the green and white, adding a team-best two assists and a pair of steals. Preseason All-Summit League First Team selection Filip Rebraca was the other Hawk in double figures with 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
UND couldn't quite find its touch from the field for most of the game, connecting on only .389 percent from the field while Miami (1-0) hit at a .509 clip. One of the nation's top shooting teams from the free throw line a season ago, the Hawks hit 18-of-24 at the charity stripe.
The poor shooting slowed down the start for UND in the opening minutes, allowing Miami to jump out to 10-4 lead after six minutes of play; however, Nate Shockey drilled his first-collegiate triple followed by a basket from Nero to cut the deficit to a pair, 10-8, at the midway portion of the half.
Miami bounced back with 10 of the game's next 12 points to open an 11-point advantage before a three gave the RedHawks their largest lead of the first half, 26-13, with just under six minutes to play.
Over the next few minutes, UND began to find its game. Led by the bench play of Gertautas Urbonavicius, Brady Danielson and Shockey, the Hawks whittled the deficit down to just five, 31-26, before the teams traded baskets in the final seconds to give Miami a 34-28 lead at the halftime break.
In the second half, North Dakota kept the game within striking distance, hovering around a nine-point game for a majority of the frame; however, the RedHawks got hot from distance to build their largest lead of the game, 15, with eight minutes to play.
De'Sean Allen-Eikens carried the Hawks down the stretch, including connecting on a three-point play to bring the deficit to just nine with three minutes remaining, but Miami put the game away at the charity stripe to hold on for the win.
North Dakota will battle Dixie State on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from St. George, Utah. Tip is slated for 8 p.m. and can be seen on the WAC Digital Network.
For more news on UND men's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com. Follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @UNDmbasketball.
NOTES: Caleb Nero, Seybian Sims, Mitchell Sueker and Nate Shockey all made their UND debuts … Ethan Igbanugo made his first career start and went 2-for-3 from distance … UND won the rebounding battle, 33-32 … The Hawks committed 17 turnovers … UND snaps its winning streak in openers at five … North Dakota is now 0-1 against Miami all-time and 3-5 against the MAC.
