GRAND FORKS, N.D. – After shooting well over 50% from the field and scoring 99 points in a win over Omaha Thursday night, the North Dakota men's basketball team went cold from the floor Saturday—shooting 39.5% in a 65-47 loss to Kansas City. The Fighting Hawks hit only three times from downtown after making 13 treys against the Mavericks Thursday.
B.J. Omot led the team with 15 points, while Amar Kuljuhovic led with nine rebounds. Tyree Ihenacho led with four assists while Eli King grabbed six steals—which tied for the most in the Division I era. The last player with six swipes in a game for the green and white was Geno Crandall on March 1, 2018 against Sacramento State.
Neither team got on the board in the first two minutes of play. Kansas City got the first basket at the 17:51 mark of the half, quickly answered by UND to tie at two. From there the Roos went on a 7-0 run to take the lead and led the rest of the way. With 9:15 left in the first half, UND trailed 18-9 but went on a 10-2 run—four points coming from Kuljuhovic and four from Omot. But the Roos quickly pushed the lead back to seven and led by that many at the break—30-23.
In the second half, Kansas City had pushed the lead to 14 when Ihenacho found King from the baseline and got it out to King who hit a three. On the other end Brady Danielson came up with a steal and then King found Omot in transition for a dunk and it made the game 43-34. But NoDak would get no closer the rest of the way.
The Fighting Hawks will be back on the road next week, traveling to Denver on Thursday then playing at Oral Roberts next Saturday.
Postgame Notes
· For the fourth time in his career, Ihenacho picked up two blocks.
· King made two of the three three-pointers for UND.
· UND lost the battle on the glass for the first time since Jan. 6 at Northern Arizona.
· NoDak allowed the opponent to shoot over 50% for the first time since Jan. 3 against Northern Colorado.
· Treysen Eaglestaff saw his 21 game streak with a three pointer snapped.
How It Happened
First Half
14:56 – Roos 9, UND 2
11:23 – Roos 11, UND 9
7:52 – Roos 18, UND 13
3:50 – Roos 20, UND 19
Half – Roos 30, UND 23
Second Half
15:56 – Roos 41, UND 27
11:25 – Roos 43, UND 34
7:44 – Roos 52, UND 35
1:53 – Roos 63, UND 44
Final – Roos 65, UND 47
For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, follow on social media @UNDmbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.
