MACOMB, Ill. – The North Dakota men's basketball team fell in the first game of the Western Illinois multiple-team event (MTE) to Coastal Carolina, 75-58 from Western Hall on Saturday evening. UND drops to 2-5 and Coastal Carolina improves to 4-2.

NoDak was able to get ahead in the early stages of the game, leading 6-0 and 15-11, but an 8:21 scoring drought from the 14:10 mark through the 7:49 point put the Hawks behind, as Coastal Carolina used a 12-0 run during that time to take an eight-point lead. The Hawks led by as many as six and trailed by as many as 21 in the contest.

The Fighting Hawks were led by Greyson Uelmen (13) and Eli King (12), combining for 25 of the 58 UND points. King grabbed a season-high nine rebounds, while Marley Curtis grabbed a career and team-high this season, 10 rebounds.

North Dakota connected on just 16-of-65 (24.6%) field goal attempts compared to 28-of-60 (46.7%) from Coastal Carolina. The Hawks attempted a season-high 34 free throw attempts, successful on just 22 of them (64.7%).

The Hawks came out shooting early, with Uelmen and Garrett Anderson connecting on back-to-back three-pointers, to give UND an early 6-0 lead. The Chanticleers answered with a 7-0 run to make it 7-6, with 17:15 to play.

From there, UND went on an 8-2 run, concluded by an Anthony Smith lll three-pointer, which gave North Dakota a 14-9 lead with 14:46 remaining. Three of the four UND three-pointers made came within the first 5:14 of the ball game.

Following a Josh Jones free throw with 14:10 to play to make it 15-11, the 8:21 scoring drought from the Hawks put them behind the eight ball. Coastal Carolina capitalized with a 12-0 run to go up 23-15, with 8:36 to play.

UND would weather the storm, getting back to as close as three, trailing just 24-21 with 7:30 remaining. Coastal Carolina ended the half on a 17-10 run to go into the break, up 41-30.

The Chanticleers blitzed the Hawks to start the second half, opening it up on an 11-2 run to take a 52-32 lead, just under four minutes into the half.

The Hawks later trailed 58-37 with 12:35 remaining, but used a 10-0 run over the next 3:36 to get as close as 11 at 58-47. 11 was the closest the Hawks would get from that point, falling 75-58.

North Dakota will be back in action tomorrow against Western Illinois at 6 p.m. from Western Hall. Coverage will be found on ESPN+ and 100.3 The Cat.

Postgame Notes

• UND falls to 0-1 all-time against Coastal Carolina
• Uelmen logged his fifth consecutive double-digit performance
• King had a season-high in rebounds with nine
• Curtis totaled 10 rebounds, the first double-digit rebounding outing by a UND player this season
• North Dakota shot 4-for-26 from three and 0-10 in the second half
• The Hawks took 34 free throws compared to 18 from Coastal Carolina
• AJ Dancler from Coastal Carolina had a game-high 31 points, the most a player has scored against UND this season

How It Happened
First Half
15:38 UND 10, CCU 7
10:31 CCU 19, UND 15
7:49 CCU 23, UND 17
3:39 CCU 34, UND 26
Halftime: CCU 41, UND 30
 
Second Half
15:50 CCU 52, UND 33
11:24 CCU 58, UND 37
7:26 CCU 63, UND 47
2:46 CCU 69, UND 51
Final: CCU 75, UND 58

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