GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team returned to the Betty Thursday night for the final week of regular season action—facing off in a crucial game with South Dakota State that held immense sway in the race for the conference title. Despite leading at half, the Fighting Hawks were unable to hold the lead in the second half as SDSU shot lights out in the second frame to win.

B.J. Omot and Tyree Ihenacho led the Fighting Hawks with 14 points, while Amar Kuljuhovic, Eli King and Ihenacho tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Ihenacho and King tied for the team lead with three assists and Ihenacho had three steals.

After falling behind 6-2 in the early going, the green and white went on a 13-2 run that gave them a 15-8 lead. Treysen Eaglestaff hit his first three pointer of the night to start the run, but back-to-back threes from SDSU quickly brought it back to a one-point game. Later with the game at 22-21, UND went on an 11-2 run that made it a ten point game at 33-23. But SDSU got the final seven points of the half to pull within three at 33-30 going into intermission.

Momentum stayed with the Jackrabbits to begin the second half on a 14-4 run that put them up 44-37. But the pendulum swung back the other way once against as NoDak went on an 8-1 run later in the half to tie it up at 50, then Eaglestaff dropped in another three that put the Fighting Hawks back on top with 11:06 to go. From there, SDSU made three straight three-pointers and gained a lead they would hold onto the rest of the way.

The Fighting Hawks close out the regular season against South Dakota on Saturday, which is Senior Day.

Postgame Notes 

·        UND remains in the second spot in the Summit League, pending the result of Kansas City's game at Denver Thursday night. With a win the Roos would tie the Fighting Hawks for the second spot.

·        NoDak went 4-4 from the foul line, all by Ihenacho; the lowest number of free throw attempts this season.

·        UND forced ten turnovers and got 15 points off of them.

·        Both teams got 28 points in the paint.

·        With the win, SDSU wins the conference regular season title outright.

How It Happened 

First Half

14:22 – UND 13, SDSU 8

11:37 – UND 17, SDSU 16

6:51 – UND 26, SDSU 21

3:35 – UND 31, SDSU 23

Half – UND 33, SDSU 30

Second Half

15:57 – SDSU 44, UND 37

11:57 – SDSU 49, UND 47

8:00 – SDSU 56, UND 53

3:14 – SDSU 64, UND 58

Final – SDSU 72, UND 62

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