FULLERTON, Calif. – The North Dakota men's basketball team had its six-game winning streak snapped Friday night, falling at Cal State Fullerton 64-54.
Eli King led the green and white with 14 points, which matched his career high. He came one board short of a double-double with a team high nine rebounds. B.J. Omot and Brady Danielson tied for the team lead with two assists, while Omot led with two blocks and Amar Kuljuhovic led with two steals.
Tsotne Tsartsidze got the Fighting Hawks on the board first with a triple to go up 3-2 in the early going, but the lead was short lived for the Fighting Hawks; who were playing from behind most of the game. Omot made a layup with 12:46 left in the half to put UND up 10-9, but after Fullerton took back the lead NoDak was unable to take it back the rest of the night. Elijah Brooks made the last basket of the first half, but the hosts took a 34-21 lead into intermission.
Layups from Treysen Eaglestaff and Kuljuhovic brought UND back within single digits at 34-25 early in the second half, but the Fighting Hawks could not keep the early momentum going as Fullerton went back up double digits. NoDak made their biggest move from 8:56-6:07 in the second half, with an 11-4 run that made it a one possession game at 50-47. King had seven points in the run, with Tsartsidze and Eaglestaff each with two. After a three-point play from CSUF, Omot once again made it a one possession game with a bucket from downtown, but the Fighting Hawks could not pull any closer the rest of the way.
NoDak will head east on Highway 91 as they finish up their Los Angeles two-step Sunday against UC Riverside.
Postgame Notes
· Had the Fighting Hawks won this game, it would have been the first seven game winning streak in the Division I era for UND.
· After winning the battle on the glass in five of the first seven games, the Fighting Hawks lost the battle on the glass 44-31.
· NoDak was outshot 18-4 from the foul line. UND went 4-9 from the stripe while CSUF went 18-22.
· UND led in steal 7-3 and only committed nine turnovers to 13 for the Titans.
· Despite trailing on the boards, NoDak had 17 second chance points to 12 for CSUF.
How It Happened
First Half
15:38 – CSUF 9, UND 5
10:25 – CSUF 13, UND 10
7:59 – CSUF 19, UND 14
3:21 – CSUF 29, UND 19
Half – CSUF 34, UND 21
Second Half
15:48 – CSUF 37, UND 27
11:35 – CSUF 43, UND 36
7:24 – CSUF 48, UND 42
2:55 – CSUF 58. UND 50
Final – CSUF 64, UND 54
For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, follow on social media @UNDmbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.
