KANSAS CITY, Mo. – All five Hawks starters scored in double figures, to help the North Dakota men's basketball team pick up a road victory over Kansas City by a score of 81-79 on Saturday night. UND moves to 3-1 in the conference and 9-11 overall, while Kansas City drops to 1-3 in Summit League play and 4-14 overall.

The Hawks led for just 11:05 of the game, taking their first lead with 12:48 left in the game, off an Anthony Smith lll layup, to go up 58-56. North Dakota's 3-1 start in conference play is its best start in conference since 2016-17, when the Hawks were in the Big Sky.

Following an Uelmen made free throw with 14 seconds left to make it 81-79, the Roos had a chance to win it, but Karmello Branch's three-ball from the right corner was no good to give the Hawks the win.

Garrett Anderson had a season-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, along with four steals. The senior set the tone in the second half, scoring nine points in the first 96 seconds of the frame, to help pull UND within one, when the Hawks trailed by seven at half.

Josh Jones played his best game as a Hawk, totaling season-highs with 11 points and 11 rebounds, including five via the offensive rebound. It was his second career double-double.

Zach Kraft had 12 points, going 4-of-4 from deep in the second half and 4-of-5 overall. Kraft hit two massive three pointers in the final 2:00, to help give North Dakota its largest lead of eight, with an 80-72 lead.

Eli King (11) and Greyson Uelmen (13) rounded out the five starters in double figures. The Hawks move to 6-0 this season when they have five players score 10 or more points.

Kansas City shot 54.0% from the field, compared to 46.8% from the Hawks, but UND forced 18 Roo turnovers, while giving it away just five times, good for a season-low in turnovers. North Dakota had 23 points off turnovers, in contrast to just three from Kansas City.

The Roos shot 12-of-19 from deep, while NoDak shot 9-for-22. Kansas City got 62 of its 79 points from the trio of U'Riyah Evans (24), Branch (20) and Jayson Petty (18).

North Dakota trailed for the whole first half, down by as many as 10. The Hawks were down 20-10 with 11:32 to play, but chipped away to cut the lead to 24-22 with 7:09 to play in the first.

Kansas City led by as many as nine the rest of the half and went into the break with a 44-37 lead. The Roos shot a blazing 16-of-25 from the field in the first 20 minutes, compared to 15-for-31 shooting from the Hawks. Uelmen (10) and Jones (9) led the way, combining for 19 points in the first frame.

UND trailed 56-51 in the second half, but used a 10-0 run and held the Roos scoreless for 4:28 of gametime, to take a 61-56 lead with 10:16 to play.

The Hawks controlled a 70-64 lead with 5:15 left, but an 8-0 run from Kansas City over the next 1:44, put the Roos back in front, 72-70 with 3:31 remaining. Jones ended the run with a dunk off a pass from Uelmen, to tie the score at 72-72 with 3:18 to play.

With the score tied, UND used an 8-0 run, headlined by two three pointers from Kraft, to put North Dakota up 80-72 with 1:21 left.

UND seemed in control, but seven quick points from Kansas City, made it an 80-79 game with 23 seconds to play. The Roos then fouled Uelmen, sending the redshirt freshman to the stripe.

Uelmen, who came into this game shooting 82.8% from the free throw line, missed both free throws, but Jones came up with a massive offensive rebound. UND killed a little bit of clock, before Uelmen was fouled again. With a chance to redeem himself, he missed the first and hit the second, to give the Hawks an 81-79 lead.

With 14 seconds left, UND played out a good defensive possession, nearly forcing the Roos to not get a shot off. Branch just got a corner three off, that was no good. Sending North Dakota to 3-1 in conference play.

North Dakota will be back at the Betty, for two home games next week. The Hawks will face St. Thomas on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Postgame Notes

• UND moves to 7-9 all-time against Kansas City
• The win snaps an eight-game Summit League road losing streak
• It's the first win at Swinney Center for UND since Jan. 13, 2024
• All five starters scored 10 or more points
• Anderson scored his career-high as a Hawk with 22 points, while snatching four steals
• UND forced 18 turnovers compared to giving it away just five times
• The +13 turnover margin tied a season-high
• Jones secured his first double-double as a Hawk and the second one in his career with 11 points and 11 rebounds
• North Dakota had 23 points off turnovers, compared to three from Kansas City
• UND moves to 4-3 in games separated five or less points, winning the last three games separated by five or less
• Kraft tied a season-high four three pointers, going 4-of-4 from deep in the second half
• It's the Hawks third win this season when trailing at halftime
• UND is 6-0 this season when five players score 10 or more points
• NoDak was outrebounded 35-27
• North Dakota is 3-1 in conference play for the first time since 2016-17, when the team was in the Big Sky and made the NCAA Tournament

How It Happened
First Half
15:34 KC 7, UND 6
10:40 KC 20, UND 13
7:30 KC 24, UND 21
3:30 KC 36, UND 27
Halftime: KC 44, UND 37
 
Second Half
15:43 KC 53, UND 51
11:35 UND 60, KC 56
7:58 UND 61, KC 60
3:42 UND 70, KC 70
Final: UND 81, KC 79
For more information on North Dakota men's basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmbasketball.
-- UND --