OREM, Utah – Utah Valley opened the second half of Wednesday night’s second meeting with North Dakota in less than a month on a 20-0 run and the effort was more than enough to pull past the Fighting Hawks for an 80-57 win from inside the UCCU Center. The loss drops UND to 4-6 on the season, while the Wolverines snap a four-game losing streak to even their overall record at 5-5.
First-half action was blanketed by runs as the Hawks responded to a 4-0 deficit with a 7-0 run which led to an 11-10 lead at the first media stoppage and eventually an 18-10 advantage. Consecutive successful triple tries from senior forward Deng Mayar and junior guard Eli King highlighted the 11-0 run for UND.
The Wolverines responded with a 17-1 jaunt to lead by six at 27-19 at the under-8 media timeout. North Dakota shot just 2-of-10 from the floor leading into the stoppage. UVU’s lead grew to nine, but a turnaround near the baseline by Mayar, pair of free throws from senior forward Brian Mathews and a pair of baskets from junior guard Treysen Eaglestaffa step back three and a crowded drive inside, brought the Hawks to within 32-31 in the final 90 seconds before the intermission.
It was a flawless first half protecting the basketball for the Hawks as UND did not commit a turnover in the opening twenty minutes. However, the Wolverines outshot the Hawks with two more makes in three less attempts in addition to seven three-point makes but led UND by just four at the break.
The second half was a different story as the aforementioned large run to start for the Wolverines swung momentum in favor of the host who forced nine second-half turnovers by the Hawks in addition to shooting 50% from beyond-the-arc as part of a 56% effort from the field in the final twenty minutes.
North Dakota trips south to the Lone Star State for a Friday night tip-off with UTSA. The Roadrunners and Hawks meet on December 13 (rescheduled from 11/9) in San Antonio and will battle again on Sunday, December 15 in Grand Forks. Friday’s contest will be the first all-time between the two programs. It marks UND’s first trip to Texas since November 2022 when the Hawks beat Incarnate Word in the season opener. Action starts at 7 p.m. from inside the Convocation Center.
Fans can follow the action live with Fighting Hawks men’s basketball radio play-by-play voice Paul Ralston on KSNR 100.3 FM The Cat or on the iHeart Radio app. The action can be seen on ESPN+ and live stats for the contest will be available at www.FightingHawks.com.
Postgame Notes
- UND’s 65 shots taken on Wednesday night is the third-most in a game this season
- The Hawks matched their season-high in three-point makes (9) behind its third-most attempts (29) in a game this season
- North Dakota posted season lows in free throws made (4) and attempted (7)
- UND’s seven assists are the second fewest in a game this season and the Hawks finished -15 in the category on Wednesday night
- The Hawks committed ten turnovers (all in the second half) and have committed ten or less in each of their past three games
- UND finished +5 in offensive rebounding, but lost the paint battle 30-20
- Eaglestaff’s game-high 20 points on a career-high 22 attempts marked the 12th time he has reached that scoring mark in a game
- Eaglestaff made five three-point attempts for the first time this season and for the eighth time in his career
- Senior forward Amar Kuljuhovic followed with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting and matched Eaglestaff in rebounding with five
- Kuljuhovic finished in double-figure scoring for the 22nd time in his UND career and crossed over the 1,000-point scoring mark for his collegiate career
- Mathews led UND with six rebounds and the Hawks finished -2 on the glass
- King followed with eight points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists
- Mayar added season-highs in points (7) and rebounds (5)
How It Happened
First Half
13:58 – UND 11, UVU 10 (UND 5-of-last-7 FGs + 7-0 run answered 4-0 deficit to start)
12:26 – UND 18, UVU 10 (AND 11-0 run 2:25, AND 4-of-last-5 FGs)
7:58 – UVU 25, UND 19 (UVU 15-1 run over 4:07, UND 2-of-last-10 FGs)
3:44 – UVU 30, UND 25
HALF – UVU 35, UND 31
Second Half
15:57 – UVU 52, UND 31 (UVU 17-0 run to start second half)
11:40 – UVU 58, UND 39 (UVU outscoring UND 28-3 in second half, 45% 3FG)
7:00 – UVU 67, AND 45 (AND 9 TOs)
2:44 – UVU 73, UND 55
FINAL – UVU 80, UND 57
For more information on North Dakota men’s basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmbasketball.
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