GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota men's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak come to an end, falling to Denver, 98-79 on Saturday afternoon from Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. UND falls to 14-13 overall and 8-3 in Summit League play, while Denver moves to 12-14 and 5-6 in conference play.

It was a tale of two halves for North Dakota, trailing by 16 points at the half, following a 9-for-29 (31.0%) shooting performance, including 1-for-11 (9.1%) from three in the first 20 minutes. Despite getting the lead down to seven in the second half, it was a little bit too much to overcome, as Denver shot 60.0% (18-of-30) in the first 20 minutes and 35-for-60 (58.3%) overall.

The Hawks struggled to secure rebounds consistently, losing the battle on the boards by a 40-25 margin and 12-9 in the offensive rebounding category. For the game, UND was 26-of-60 from the field, making a season-low three 3-pointers, via 21 attempts.

Four Hawks scored in double figures, led by Greyson Uelmen, who had his second straight 20-point performance, putting up 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Marley Curtis gave UND a great spark off the bench, logging 14 points on 4-of-4 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line in just 16 minutes. George Natsvlishvili and Anthony Smith lll each contributed 12 points apiece.

Denver punched the Hawks in the mouth from the start, opening up the game on an 8-0 run, all via Zane Nelson, hitting two 3-pointers and a mid-range jumper. Nelson had 10 of Denver's first 16 points, as UND trailed 16-5 at the first media timeout with 14:03 left.

The Hawks scrapped, getting the Denver lead down to as little as two when Uelmen converted a traditional three-point play, to make it 20-18 Denver with 10:00 to play.

Over the next 5:25, the Pioneers responded with a 15-1 run, pushing the score to 35-19. The Hawks would end up going into the break, down 43-27.

North Dakota did its best to weather the storm after falling behind 50-31 with 17:17 left in the game. UND hovered around the range of a 15-to-18 point deficit, trailing 63-46 at the 11:42, under 12 timeout.

The Hawks continued to fight, chipping into the lead, using an 8-2 run over the next 1:28, to make it a 65-54 game. Denver responded with two consecutive buckets, to make it 69-54 with 9:21 to play.

UND had its real push come now, getting the Denver lead down to single-digits, using a 9-1 run to make it 70-63 Pioneers at the 7:22 point. Zach Kraft's three-pointer originally got the score to 70-61, before Eli King came up with a steal and pitched the ball ahead to Uelmen who scored the basket, creating the 70-63 game.

Down seven, The killer came on the defensive side, when Jeremiah Burke missed a three-pointer, which the Gabe Oldham got the offensive rebound to and put back a layup, while getting fouled by King, to make it 72-63. Oldham would miss the free throw, keeping it a single-digit game.

Natsvlishvili scored on the next possession down the court getting it back down to a seven-point game, but the Hawks just couldn't string together enough stops. Over the next 3:30, Denver hit the Hawks with a 13-4 run, pushing to an 85-69 lead with 3:21 to play.

Despite scoring 52 points in the second half, UND gave up 55, as the Hawks would fall 98-79. The team will hit the road for a matchup in Vermillion against South Dakota on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Postgame Notes

• UND falls to 11-8 all-time against Denver
• The Hawks five-game winning streak comes to an end
• UND is now 8-3 in conference and 8-6 at home
• Uelmen had a team-high 24 points, giving him four 20+ point performances over the last six games
• Curtis had his eighth double-figure performance, scoring 14 points
• Smith lll put up his 11th double-digit game, scoring 12 points
• Natsvlishvili had 12 points, his ninth 10 or more point game this season
• UND had 46 points in the paint compared to 42 from Denver
• NoDak hit a season-low three 3-pointers on 21 attempts
• 98 points were the most allowed by UND this season
• The Hawks were outrebounded 40-25
• North Dakota had three turnovers compared to eight from Denver
• Denver won the second chance points battle, 15-12

How It Happened
First Half
14:03 DU 16, UND 5
11:47 DU 20, UND 11
7:59 DU 25, UND 18
2:18 DU 38, UND 25
Halftime: DU 43, UND 27
 
Second Half
15:41 DU 52, UND 34
11:42 DU 63, UND 46
7:48 DU 70, UND 58
3:21 DU 83, UND 69
Final: DU 98, UND 79

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