GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Five Fighting Hawks logged 10 or more points to push the North Dakota men's basketball team past Crown by a score of 89-43 on Wednesday night from Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND improves to 4-8.

The Hawks went wire-to-wire, holding a lead for 39:12 of game time and holding an advantage by as many as 46.

George Natsvlishvili led the way for UND, posting 17 points, six rebounds (all offensive), four steals and one assist. Zach Kraft (11), Greyson Uelmen (11), Reggie Thomas (10) and Anthony Smith lll (10) each logged double digits, with the 10 points being a career-high for Thomas.

North Dakota grabbed 51 rebounds compared to the Polars 27, dominating the offensive glass 20-4. UND had 20 assists, led by Uelmen and Smith lll with four each, while garnering 14 steals as a team.

UND opened the game up on an 11-0 run in the first 2:58 of the contest, courtesy of four points from Natsvlishvili, two from King, two from Uelmen and three from Kraft.

The Polars were able to bring the game back within single digits one more time, closing the Hawks lead to 21-12 with 10:48 to play. North Dakota then used another 11-0 run to take a 32-12 lead at the 6:06 mark.

NoDak forced 12 first half turnovers, led by Kraft (11) and Natsvlishvili (9) who combined for 20 of the teams 44 points in the first frame. UND took a 44-21 lead going into half.

An 8-0 run out of the break pushed the advantage to 52-21 with 16:53 to play. Crown would come as close as 26, when the Polars trailed 52-26 with 15:03 to go, but 11 different Hawks scored in the second half, to lead UND to an 89-43 victory. Smith lll and Natsvlishili each had eight points in the second half.

UND stays home and welcomes in Western Illinois for the squads second meeting this year on Saturday at 1 p.m. Coverage can be found on Midco Sports and heard on 100.3 The Cat.

Postgame Notes

• UND improves to 4-0 all-time against Crown
• North Dakota attempted 74 shots compared to 48 from Crown
• The Hawks shot 34-of-74 (45.9%) from the field and 8-for-25 from deep, while Crown shot 17-of-48 from the field and 6-of-28 from behind the arc
• NoDak had 44 bench points, 50 points in the paint and 37 points off 27 Crown turnovers
• The 27 turnovers forced were the most since UND forced 27 against Crown on Nov. 11, 2016
• Natsvlishvili led the way with 17 points and six rebounds, averaging 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over the last two games
• Natsvlishvili had a career-high four steals
• Thomas logged a career-high 10 points
• Kraft totaled his ninth game with multiple three-pointers and his sixth performance with three or more triples this season
• King had his 11th game this season with two or more steals
• King now sits ninth all-time in career steals at UND
• Karson Ouse logged his first career collegiate point in the second half
• Matthew Bothun hit the first three-pointer of his career in the second half
• Uelmen totaled his ninth double-digit game scoring game of the season
• Smith lll had his four game with 10 or more points this season

How It Happened
First Half
15:54 UND 13, CC 4
12:01 UND 21, CC 9
7:14 UND 30, CC 12
3:37 UND 39, CC 16
Half: UND 44, CC 21
 
Second Half
15:28 UND 52, CC 23
10:40 UND 62, CC 31
7:32 UND 69, CC 34
3:55 UND 80, CC 40
Final: UND 89, CC 43

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