GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team played its first regular season home game Sunday afternoon, defeating the Elon Phoenix 85-68.  

Treysen Eaglestaff scored a career high 26 points, hitting five shots from downtown. B.J. Omot notched his first career double-double with 21 points and ten rebounds. Eli King led UND with four assists and three blocks while Deng Mayar led with three steals.

Tsotne Tsartsidze hit the opening bucket from three point range in what was a very fast first seven-plus minutes in the first half. Elon led at the first stoppage behind 15 points early on from Max Mackinnon, but the Fighting Hawks chipped away at the deficit, pulling ahead later in the half at 21-20 behind Omot hitting 2-2 from the foul line. The teams gave and took the lead as the half went on but the Phoenix went into the locker room ahead 39-37. Omot had 11 points at the break, Eaglestaff had ten.

NoDak started the second half on an 8-4 run, taking a lead at 45-43 following an Eaglestaff three that was held for the rest of the game. The lead swelled two ten points at 53-43 as the green and white scored 16 of the first 20 points in the second half. UND led by as many as 21 in the second half a tenacious defensive effort held the Phoenix to 25.8% shooting in the second half—outscoring the Phoenix 48-29 in the second frame.

Postgame Notes 

·         Tsartsidze was the third Fighting Hawk in double figures with 16 points.

·         Amar Kuljuhovic had a well rounded day with eight points and eight boards.

·         Elijah Brooks and Brady Danielson both tallied six points—with Danielson hitting two shots from beyond the arc.

·         NoDak dominated points in the paint, outscoring Elon 40-16.

·         For the second straight game the Fighting Hawks got 20 points from the bench.

·         UND shot 48.4% from the field in the game and 54.8% in the second half.

  
How It Happened 

First Half

12:45 – Elon 20, UND 14

11:43 – Elon 20, UND 14

8:01 – UND 25, Elon 22

3:24 – UND 33, Elon 33

Half – Elon 39, UND 37

Second Half

15:48 – UND 47, Elon 43

11:55 – UND 60, Elon 48

7:30 – UND 69, Elon 52

3:56 – UND 78, Elon 60

Final- UND 85, Elon 68

For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, follow on social media @UNDmbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.