GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Eli King's game-winning three-pointer from the logo with .5 seconds to play, propelled the North Dakota men's basketball team past Winthrop in a thrilling 90-88 victory on Thursday night from Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND moves to 5-9 while Winthrop falls to 7-6.

It was a wild end to the game, as Winthrop's Daylen Berry connected on a three-ball with 13 seconds left to give the Eagles an 88-87 lead. Anthony Smith lll then brought the ball up the court, drove in and kicked the rock out to King, where he took one dribble, stepped back and connected from the logo for the win.

King logged a career-high 25 points on 7-of-14 shooting, along with five rebounds, three steals and two assists. It was his third career 20-point game, while hitting a season-high four three-pointers.

Smith lll was a difference maker, compiling 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, while grabbing six rebounds (four offensive) and dishing out two assists. The freshman was a +12 on the court in his 20 minutes of work, good for a game-high.

George Natsvlishvili had 14 points and five rebounds, combined with 11 points from Greyson Uelmen to round out the four Hawks in double figures.

The game featured 13 ties and seven lead changes, with UND trailing by nine at halftime and by as many as 11 in the second half.

The Hawks connected on 13 three-pointers, their most this season against a division l opponent, shooting 39.4% from deep tonight. North Dakota had six different players hit a three-pointer, including Wylee Delorme who hit his first shot as a Fighting Hawk, five seconds after checking into the game in the first half. He totaled four points in 10 minutes in his debut.

Winthrop came into this game averaging 14.3 offensive rebounds per game and North Dakota held the Eagles to just eight, their second lowest total of the season. In contrast, UND grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Eagles 38-33 overall. Garrett Anderson corralled a career-high nine rebounds.

The contest had 55 total fouls and 75 total free throws. UND shot 23-for-32 (71.9%) from the line, while Winthrop connected on 29-of-43 (67.4%) attempts.

The first half was close for much of the frame, with UND leading by as many as five. The Hawks led 37-34, following a Zach Kraft made three-pointer with 2:45 remaining, but NoDak allowed the Eagles to go on an 11-0 run to put them down 45-37. An Uelmen free-throw and a two Winthrop free throws gave the Eagles a 47-38 lead at halftime.

North Dakota trailed for a good portion of the second half, trailing for 14:15 of the 20 minutes. UND trailed 54-43 and 62-52, but found a way to stick in the game, mainly due to their ability to hit three-pointers, get to the free-throw line and create second-chance opportunities.

With 7:13 remaining, NoDak trailed 76-70, but a 10-1 run, capped off by two Natsvlishvili free throws, gave UND an 80-77 lead with 5:00 to play.

Following a made three from Winthrop to tie it at 80-80, Smith lll and King each scored tough buckets at the rim, as UND led 84-82 with 3:02 left. After each team split a pair of free throws, making the score 85-83, the Hawks took their first and only two-possession lead of the half, when Natsvlishvili secured an offensive rebound off an Uelmen miss and put it back in. North Dakota led 87-83 with 56 seconds to play.

Winthrop then made two free throws, bringing the score to 87-85. On the Hawks following possession, Kraft had a great look from straight-away with a chance to ice the game, but his shot was off, giving Winthrop the ball back with 31 seconds to play.

Berry hit a three-pointer for the Eagles with 13 seconds to play, giving Winthrop an 88-87 lead. That one-point Eagles lead was short lived, as Eli King hit the game-winning dagger, off the pass from Smith lll with .05 seconds to play. North Dakota was able to pull out the 90-88 victory.

UND will hit the road for a game at No. 15 Nebraska on Sunday at 7 p.m. Coverage can be found on Big 10 Network.

Postgame Notes

• UND improves to 1-0 all-time against Winthrop
• The Hawks move to 3-4 at home this season
• North Dakota moves to 3-4 in games decided by under 10 points
• King's game-winning three gave him a career-high 25 points on the night
• It was UND's third come-from-behind victory of the season
• The Hawks connected on 13-of-33 attempts from behind the arc
• Six different players hit a three-pointer, four having two or more
• Kraft had his seventh game with three or more three-pointers tonight
• King's four three-pointers was a season-high
• Smith lll was a game-high +12 in the +\- department, posting 14 points and six rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting
• Smith lll had a game-high four offensive rebounds
• Delorme hit his first career shot attempt for UND in his first game as a Hawk, ending with four points
• North Dakota won the rebounding battle 38-33 and 15-8 on the offensive glass
• Winthrop's eight offensive rebounds were the second lowest the Eagles have had this season
• There was a total of 75 free throws taken, UND going 23-of-32 and Winthrop shooting 29-for-43
• North Dakota had 21 second-chance points compared to 15 from Winthrop
• NoDak took 62 field goal attempts (27-of-62) compared to 46 from the Eagles (24-for-46)
• King now has eight games this season with three or more steals
• Anderson grabbed a career-high nine rebounds

How It Happened
First Half
15:34 UND, 12 Winthrop 11
11:41 Winthrop 16, UND 14
7:27 UND 24, Winthrop 20
3:19 UND 32, Winthrop 32
Halftime: Winthrop 47, UND 38
 
Second Half
15:40 Winthrop 57, UND 49
11:43 Winthrop 67, UND 58
7:46 Winthrop 73, UND 68
3:58 UND 82, Winthrop 80
Final: UND 90, Winthrop 88

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