FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team was back in action on Saturday after a week off, looking for the first season sweep of North Dakota State in the Division I era. It was a back-and-forth game at Scheel's Arena but ultimately NDSU prevailed at home.

B.J. Omot led the Fighting Hawks with 22 points, while Amar Kuljuhovic notched his eighth double-double of the campaign with 13 points and 11 rebounds (a team high), and Tyree Ihenacho led with seven assists.

Omot gave UND an early 5-4 lead with a three pointer, but from there NDSU held the upper hand for the middle part of the first half. NoDak got back in front when Kuljuhovic made a three pointer that gave them a 23-21 lead with just over five minutes left in the half. Threes on back-to-back possessions from Tsotne Tsartsidze gave the green and white a 31-27 lead, but NDSU scored six straight to go up two before Ihenacho scored on a layup in the closing seconds to make it a 33-33 game at half.

Seven of the first eight points of the second half were scored by UND, Omot getting the first two baskets of the second frame and another three from Tsartsidze. But momentum in the half tossed back-and-forth like a wave in the ocean, as one team got on a run the other answered. With 10:57 left the game was tied at 52, and from there a 9-2 run for the Fighting Hawks, punctuated by a three from Treysen Eaglestaff, pushed UND in front 61-54. But once again, momentum swung the other way as NDSU answered with an 8-0 run to go back on top 62-61.

A coast-to-coast steal and layup from Omot quickly put the green and white back on top, which NDSU answered and UND answered again with a basket from Eaglestaff to go up 65-64 with 2:46 left, but it was the last time the Fighting Hawks led in the game.

The Fighting Hawks will play the last two games of the regular season at home next week with South Dakota State on Thursday then South Dakota next Saturday.

Postgame Notes 

·        Ihenacho finished one assist shy of tying his career high, which is eight set on three occasions.

·        Kujljuhovic got a double-double in both games against NDSU this season.

·        Tsartsidze grabbed four rebounds to get to an even 500 for his career at UND.

·        Six players got a steal, including both Brady Danielson and Eli King off the bench.

·        Eaglestaff finished with 11 points, joining Omot and Kuljuhovic in double figures.

How It Happened 

First Half

15:11 – NDSU 8, UND 5

10:42 – UND 20, ORU 11

7:51 – NDSU 21, UND 17

3:26 – UND 25, NDSU 24

Half – UND 33, NDSU 33

Second Half

15:22 – UND 42, NDSU 41

11:24 – UND 52, NDSU 50

7:08 – UND 61, NDSU 54

3:04 – NDSU 64, UND 63

Final – NDSU 73, UND 68

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