DENVER – Treysen Eaglestaff scored a career high 33 points to lead North Dakota men's basketball team to a 92-78 win over the Denver Pioneers Thursday night, with 27 of his points coming the second half. The Fighting Hawk sharpshooter made 5-8 shots from downtown and 10-11 shots from the foul line.
Eli King also set a career high with 18 points, including a team high 16 in the first half. Amar Kuljuhovic notched his seventh double-double of the season with ten points and a team high 14 rebounds. Tyree Ihenacho led the team with four assists, while King and Tsotne Tsartsidze each had three. B.J. Omot blocked three shots, while King blocked six and Ihenacho one.
In stark contrast to the first half against Kansas City, both teams lit up the scoreboard in the first stanza. UND grabbed its first lead at 6-5 when Omot drove from the free throw line in for a dunk, the first of two monstrous dunks from the sophomore in the half. Later in the half, King drove the baseline and found Omot coming down the lane for a slam. King hit four three pointers in the half, setting a new career high for threes in a game in the first 20 minutes. Brady Danielson made a fantastic save on a loose ball which made its way to King, who hit from the top of the arc. His fourth three beat the buzzer as UND ran an inbounds play with 1.4 seconds left and King it from the corner to give the Fighting Hawks a 41-37 lead going into halftime.
The game remained neck-and-neck during the opening minutes of the second half, with UND holding the lead until a three made it a 54-52 game in favor of the hosts with 11:57 to go. A couple of minutes later a layup from Kuljuhovic gave the lead back to the green and white at 57-56. Shortly after a three from Eaglestaff made it 60-58 for NoDak, who would never trail again in the game. Later from a 66-66 tie, Eaglestaff hit from beyond the arc again and from there the Fighting Hawks led the rest of the way.
The Fighting Hawks will seek a season sweep of Oral Roberts on Saturday night at the Mabee Center.
Postgame Notes
· Eaglestaff becomes the second Fighting Hawk to score 30+ points this season, Omot scored 30 at Kansas City.
· UND grabbed 35 rebounds to 29 for Denver.
· NoDak had more points off turnovers, points in the paint, second chance points, fast break points and bench points in this game.
· The game had nine lead changes and five ties.
· With a loss tonight by South Dakota State, NoDak is now in first place in the Summit League.
How It Happened
First Half
14:51 – UND 10, Denver 9
11:33 – UND 18, Denver 14
7:52 – UND 24, Denver 21
3:22 – Denver 33, UND 31
Half – UND 41, Denver 37
Second Half
15:07 – UND 49, Denver 47
10:55 – Denver 56, UND 52
7:03 – UND 64, Denver 64
4:07 – UND 72, Denver 68
Final – UND 92, Denver 78
For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, follow on social media @UNDmbasketball or visit FightingHawks.com.
