GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Matthew Bothun totaled a career-high 15 points to lead the North Dakota men's basketball team to an 88-56 victory over Dakota State on Sunday afternoon. UND improves to 6-10 on the season.

Bothun shot 5-for-5 from the field, going 3-of-3 from deep, good for 15 points (all in the first half). He also contributed with one block, one rebound and one assist. Five UND players overall scored in double figures, as Zach Kraft (11), Garrett Anderson (10), Anthony Smith lll (10) and Marley Curtis (11) joined Bothun with 10 or more points.

North Dakota led by as many as 36 in the win and never trailed in the contest. The Hawks forced 18 Dakota State turnovers, compared to just six of their own. UND never trailed in the ball game.

Garrett Anderson and Greyson Uelmen combined for eight of the Hawks 10 steals on the day, with both players snatching four apiece.

NoDak jumped out to a 5-0 lead early on, courtesy of a Greyson Uelmen layup and an Eli King left-wing three. The Trojans weathered the storm, to make the score 14-12 with 14:45 remaining in the first.

A 13-0 UND run broke the game open, giving the Hawks a 27-12 lead with 9:14 remaining in the first frame. The Hawks led by as many as 18 in the first half, shooting 18-of-32 and 7-for-17 from deep. Bothun led the way with 15 first half points, giving UND a 49-33 halftime lead.

In the second half, UND grabbed its first 20-point lead of the day with 13:11 remaining, off a Curtis three-point play, to give North Dakota a 62-42 advantage.

North Dakota outscored Dakota State by 16 in the second half, leading by more than the 20 for the final 12:46 of the game. Curtis led the way with eight points in the second half, to give UND the 88-56 win.

UND will begin conference play at home on Thursday at 1 p.m. against Oral Roberts. Coverage can be found on Midco Sports / Summit League Network.

Postgame Notes

• UND improves to 2-0 all-time against Dakota State
• The 49 points in the first half were the second most the Hawks have put up in a first half this season
• Bothun scored all 15 of his points in the first half, he came into this game with 14 career points
• Five UND players were in double figures
• The Hawks six turnovers were a season low
• UND won the rebounding battle 36-30, including 13-5 on the offensive glass
• Uelmen and Anderson each had four steals, a career-high for Uelmen and the four tied a career-high for Anderson
• Kraft had his eighth game this season with three-or-more three pointers
• Reggie Thomas hit a three-pointer for the fifth-straight game
• UND had 46 points in the paint compared to 20 from DSU and took 67 shot attempts, while the Trojans took just 40

How It Happened
First Half
14:09 UND 16, DSU 12
11:40 UND 21, DSU 12
7:34 UND 29, DSU 14
3:29 UND 40, DSU 25
Halftime: UND 49, DSU 33
Second Half
15:09 UND 57, DSU 41
11:40 UND 66, DSU 43
7:23 UND 76, DSU 47
3:32 UND 81, DSU 50
Final: UND 88, DSU 56
For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmbasketball.
-- UND --