IOWA CITY, Iowa – The North Dakota men's basketball team played its first game of the regular season Tuesday night, falling to Iowa 110-68 on the road.
B.J. Omot set a new career high with 24 points and shot 10-21 from the field while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out two assists. Deng Mayar and Amar Kuljuhovic tied for the team lead with seven rebounds in their first regular season games for NoDak while Eli King led with four assists in his first game in green and white.
Back-to-back layups from Treysen Eaglestaff and Eli King brought UND within one at 5-4 early in the first half, but from there Iowa pulled away and the Fighting Hawks were unable to take a lead at any point. Omot scored 12 points in the first half while Kuljuhovic had six boards at the intermission. Despite the Fighting Hawks shooting 42.4 percent from the floor in the first half, Iowa held a 56-32 lead at half behind an 8-3 edge in three pointers and a 10-1 edge in free throws.
The Fighting Hawks could not find the range from the field in the second half and the Hawkeyes did not relinquish control of the game throughout the second half. Mayar was a bright spot in the frame as he scored six points and grabbed four boards in the second half, while Omot poured in another 12 points.
North Dakota's first home game will be Sunday, Nov. 12, against Elon at the Betty. Tip off will be at 1 p.m.
For the latest on North Dakota Men's Basketball, visit fightinghawks.com and follow @undmbasketball on social media.
Postgame Notes
· UND had only one scorer in double figures for the first time since Dec. 30, 2022 against North Dakota State.
· Two Fighting Hawks grabbed seven or more rebounds for the first time since the regular season finale against St. Thomas last season.
· Omot broke his career high of 20 points set against Oral Roberts on Jan. 21, 2023.
· NoDak held a 23-20 edge in rebounds at the half, but Iowa finished with a 44-38 edge on the glass.
How It Happened
First Half
- 14:56 – Iowa 18, UND 9
- 11:11 – Iowa 26, UND 14
- 7:35 – Iowa 35, UND 18
- 3:40 – Iowa 42, UND 24
- 0:00 – Iowa 56, UND 32
Second Half
- 14:32 – Iowa 73, UND 44
- 10:52 – Iowa 85, UND 50
- 7:46 – Iowa 88, UND 61
- 3:40 – Iowa 99, UND 66
- 0:00 – Iowa 110, UND 68
