GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota will open the regular season at Incarnate Word on Monday night. The Fighting Hawks and Cardinals will square off at 7:30 p.m. inside the McDermott Center. Fans can follow the action by watching ESPN+, as well as by tuning into Paul Ralston's call on the Home of Economy Radio Network (100.3 FM/790 AM).
Series History vs. the Cardinals
The North Dakota and Incarnate Word men's basketball programs have never crossed paths in their histories. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Hawks and the Cardinals.
Last Time Out
The Fighting Hawks defeated the Warriors of Waldorf in exhibition play, 93-48, inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Halloween night. Four UND players finished in double figures.
Mitchell Sueker was the leading scorer for North Dakota, netting 24 points with 22 of them coming in the first half alone. Tsotne Tsartsidze was next in scoring for UND with 17 points and six rebounds, followed by newcomer B.J. Omot with 13 points in his first 23 minutes as a Fighting Hawk. Brian Mathews recorded the lone double-double of the game, throwing down 12 points and pulling down 10 boards.
In the game, both teams were tied 18-18 with 12:53 left in the first half before North Dakota went on a 21-4 run to take a commanding 37-22 lead with 3:32 left in the half. During that run, Sueker went on an 8-0 run by himself at one point. UND led 44-26 at the break and led by as many as 45 points in the game, going on a 25-0 run late in the second half. The Fighting Hawks led by at least 20 points the entire half after scoring the first bucket of the second half.
Starting Strong
Historically, UND has made a habit out of getting off to strong starts to open the year. North Dakota has won seven of its last nine games to open the season and are 84-33 in its previous 117 years of basketball history in season openers.Â
Attacking the Glass
As a team, North Dakota finished last season ranked No. 4 in the Summit League in rebounds per game (35.5). When it came to being aggressive on the offensive glass, NoDak shined with 10.2 rebounds per game to sit third in league play.
FULL GAME NOTES AREÂ HERE.
