FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team traveled to Fargo Friday night for a showdown with in-state rival North Dakota State, falling to the Bison 91-75. Matt Norman led the Hawks (7-16, 1-9 SL) with 25 points, with Tsonte Tsartsidze and A'jahni Levias both reaching double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively.

B.J. Omot led the Hawks with nine seven rebounds, while four players (Norman, Tsartsidze, Treysen Eaglestaff and Jalun Trent) all tied for the team lead with two assists. 

UND got out to a lead early as Eaglestaff hit a three to open the scoring and then a layup from Tsartsidze put the Hawks on top 5-0. It was the beginning of a high scoring, breakneck first 20 minutes. NDSU answered with a 13-3 run, but UND hit threes on four possessions as Tsartsidze hit to draw UND back within two at 13-11, then Norman hit three straight threes to put UND up 20-15.

The first time that either team led by more than five points was at the 8:49 mark of the half when Levias completed a three point play that put the Hawks up 31-25. Levias scored all 10 of his points in the first half, and Norman poured in 15 of his 25 points in the opening stanza—all from beyond the arc.

After the three point play by Levias, the Bison went on a 9-2 run to take the lead and would not trail again for the rest of the game. The Hawks would not go down easy as they pulled within two at 38-36 after a three pointer from Tsartsidze at the 5:05 mark of the first half, but it was as close as the Hawks would get the rest of the way. A three from Eaglestaff at the buzzer made it a 53-46 game at halftime.

The Bison came out in the second half with an 8-0 run to expand their seven point halftime edge. From there, the Hawks were unable to pull within single digits the rest of the way.

In the game, North Dakota shot 28-70 from the floor (40%) and 12-35 from three-point range (34.3%).

North Dakota will head south next week for two games in South Dakota—taking on South Dakota State Thursday evening in Brookings and then South Dakota Saturday afternoon in Vermillion. The game will be carried on the Home of Economy Radio Network and Midco Sports.

Postgame Notes

• Following the result, North Dakota leads the all-time series 163-144.
• Levias and Norman both reached double digit scoring in the first half.
• UND made nine threes in the first half and finished the game with 12.
• The Hawks bench finished with 35 of the 75 points, and in the first half scored 25 of the 46 points.
• Both teams shot over 40% from downtown in the first half.
• Grant Nelson led all scorers with 36 points for the Bison.

How It Happened
First Half

• 12:02 – UND 20, NDSU 19
• 9:46 – UND 25, NDSU 23
• 6:33 – NDSU 34, UND 33
• 3:18 – NDSU 44, UND 38
• 0:00 – NDSU 53, UND 46

Second Half

• 15:21 – NDSU 66, UND 53
• 9:50 – NDSU 76, UND 60
• 6:59 – NDSU 79, UND 62
• 3:55 – NDSU 87, UND 69
• 0:00 – NDSU 91, UND 75