MINNEAPOLIS – The University of North Dakota men's basketball team dropped a 76-67 decision to Minnesota on Friday night from Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
 
UND (0-3) put a scare into the unbeaten Gophers (4-0), as the Fighting Hawks were aiming to knock off a Big Ten foe for the second straight season.
 
Filip Rebraca flexed his muscles against Minnesota for the second consecutive year, striking for a game-high 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting. The junior just missed his career high by one point, while also grabbing six rebounds, a steal and recording a block. Rebraca was strong on the defensive end of the floor as well, holding 7-footer Liam Robbins to just nine points and two offensive rebounds.
 
Redshirt sophomore guard Caleb Nero matched his best outing in a North Dakota uniform on Friday as well with 16 points. The Weber State transfer hit 5-of-10 from the field, including a 3-for-4 mark from distance.
 
 It was a baptism by fire for true freshman point guard Tyree Ihenacho, as the rookie was tasked with guarding Wooden Award Preseason Finalist Marcus Carr. Carr, who came into Friday averaging nearly 30 points per game, was held to just 17 on 8-of-17 shooting and committed a trio of turnovers. On the offensive side, Ihenacho added 10 points of his own, dished out three assists, grabbed a trio of boards and swiped three balls.
 
Mitchell Sueker just missed reached double figures for the second straight game, scoring nine points and matching Rebraca's mark with six rebounds.
 
North Dakota got out to the start it wanted in the game's first five minutes, building a lead as high as six, 10-4, thanks to strong shooting. The visitors sank four of its first six attempts from the field, led by Rebraca's four, to carry a 10-7 at the first media stoppage.
 
The green and white kept their foot on the gas as the half wore on, extending the advantage to 11, 22-11, on a Rebraca triple and some strong defense. After allowing Minnesota to hit three of its first four shots, UND limited the hosts to just two of its next eight attempts from the field to build the lead.
 
Minnesota started to claw back into the contest just beyond the midway point of the stanza, striking for 10 of the next 12 points to trim the lead down to just three, 24-21, with just under eight minutes to play in the first half.
 
After UND built back a six-point lead, the Gophers battled back and took their first advantage of the contest, 32-31, in the final minutes of the half. The lead was short-lived for Minnesota, with Ethan Igbanugo scoring a quick four points to put the Hawks back in front, 35-33, with just over 60 seconds to play in the period. A late triple by the Gophers sent the hosts to the locker room with a 36-35 lead after 20 minutes.
 
Minnesota came out attacking to begin the second half, going on a 6-0 run to build a 46-41 lead at the under-16 timeout. Turnovers plagued the Fighting Hawks during those opening four minutes, allowing the Gophers to strike for four points on a pair of giveaways.
 
After the Gophers extended the lead to seven, 50-43, UND answered back with five straight of its own, capped off by a Nero triple, to cut the lead back to a pair, 50-48, with 10 minutes to play.
 
The teams went back-and-forth over the next few minutes, with Minnesota holding its advantage, but North Dakota not going away quietly. Rebraca continued his best game of the young season with a floater over the Gopher defense to trim the deficit down to 58-56 with under eight minutes remaining.
 
Minnesota started to pull away in the next few minutes, growing the lead to nine with just over four minutes on the clock. Rebraca continued to keep the Hawks in the game, this time with his outside shooting, to pull UND within six, 67-61, at the under-four timeout.
 
The late push by the Fighting Hawks came up short, as Minnesota salted the game away at the line to hold on for the 76-67 victory.
 
North Dakota will enjoy some time off before heading to Sioux Falls for a four-team tournament beginning next Thursday against South Dakota at 5:30 p.m. from the Sanford Pentagon.
 
For more news on UND men's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @UNDmbasketball.
 
NOTES: De'Sean Allen-Eikens missed his second straight game with an injury … UND used the same starting lineup as Wednesday for the first time this season …  UND falls to 2-20 all-time against Minnesota … The 9-point margin of victory was the closest in the series since Dec. 22, 1983 (78-73 Minnesota) … The Hawks finished 9-of-11 at the line … Minnesota shot .467 percent from the field while holding UND to a .417 clip … The Gophers won the rebounding battle, 37-33 … UND falls to 4-41 against the Big Ten Conference … Rebraca eclipsed the 10-point plateau for the 11th straight game and 40th time for his career … His 20-plus point outing was the sixth of his career.