BROOKINGS, S.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team got off to a fast start Sunday afternoon against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, but were unable to maintain the momentum throughout the second half; falling 80-61.

Tyree Ihenacho and Tsotne Tsartsidze led UND with 16 points and nine rebounds. Eli King joined the two of them in double-figures with 11 points, while Ihenacho led with three assists. Amar Kuljuhovic led with three steals while B.J. Omot and Treysen Eaglestaff each blocked a shot.

Tsartsidze got the green and white on the board first with a three pointer, followed by Omot hitting from downtown and then Ihenacho hit from deep for three treys in the first five minutes as UND built an 11-6 lead. Eaglestaff made a free throw to put NoDak up ten at the 12:06 mark of the first half (18-8). As the half went on, SDSU climbed back in and tied the game at 28 then go up two at 30-28; but UND took back the lead with a three from Ihenacho. A layup from Ihenacho on the next possession made it 33-30, but SDSU got the last six of the half to take a 36-33 lead into intermission.

A jumper from Tsartsidze to begin the half made it a one point game, but the Fighting Hawks were unable to get any closer the rest of the half. NoDak made a push late, down 13 with 6:16 left two foul shots from Ihenacho, a layup from King and jumper from Tsartsidze made it a seven point game at 66-59 with 4:36 to go. But SDSU repelled the Fighting Hawks charge as UND could get no closer the rest of the game.

North Dakota will be back in action on Wednesday night against Northern Colorado as part of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge.

Postgame Notes 

·        Brady Danielson started in his 134^th game for the Fighting Hawks, a new UND program record.

·        UND made seven threes in the first half, but only one in the second half.

·        NoDak scored 18 second chance points to ten for SDSU.

·        Ihenacho finished one board shot of his first UND double-double.

·        Zeke Mayo led all scorer's with 25 points off the bench for SDSU.

·        SDSU has won 16 straight in the series against UND and 22 straight in Brookings.

How It Happened 

First Half

15:54 – UND 8, SDSU 6

10:19 – UND 18, SDSU 14

6:21 – UND 26, SDSU 21

2:38 – UND 33, SDSU 30

Half – SDSU 36, UND 33

Second Half

15:11 – SDSU 45, UND 37

12:16 – SDSU 54, UND 39

7:53 – SDSU 62, UND 51

3:36 – SDSU 68, UND 59

Final – SDSU 80, UND 61

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