GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota produced a torrid first half offensively and maintained its advantage the final 20 minutes to complete an 80-75 victory over South Dakota State on Saturday, Feb. 1, in front of 2,025 spectators in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
North Dakota made the first basket of the contest with 18 minutes, 27 seconds on the clock. The Fighting Hawks never trailed from that point on. A Mambourou Mara 3-pointer gave the Hawks their largest lead of the day, 41-22, at the 5:33 mark of the first half.
UND eventually took a 50-35 lead into halftime. The Fighting Hawks shot 68.8% from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including a 6-for-7 (85.7%) from 3-point range. North Dakota didn’t commit a turnover while forcing nine out of South Dakota State.
SDSU briefly pushed the deficit back into single digits early in the second half. A seven-point Jackrabbit scoring run made it 53-45 with 17:14 to play. It was the closest SDSU got the margin until there was less than a minute left in the contest.
The Fighting Hawks finished the matchup outshooting the Jacks 55-43% and had a 53-37% advantage from deep. UND forced SDSU into 15 turnovers while giving the ball up just six times.
North Dakota’s victory snapped multiple streaks for South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits’ active five-game win streak ended. It also closed out an 18-game stretch of victories for SDSU over UND in their all-time series, the first win for the Hawks over the Jacks since 2011, and was the Fighting Hawks’ second win in the two sides’ previous 24 meetings.
South Dakota State dropped to 15-9 overall and 6-3 in Summit League action. North Dakota improved to 9-15 (3-6).
NOTES
- North Dakota had five double-digit scorers. The Fighting Hawks were led by Eli King’s 24 points and Treysen Eaglestaff’s 19.
- Joe Sayler had a team-high 20 points for the Jackrabbits. Kalen Garry scored 12 points, while Owen Larson and Oscar Cluff had 10 points apiece. Cluff had his fifth 19-plus rebound performance. Larson had five assists.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits return to Brookings for their next contest. SDSU hosts St. Thomas in First Bank & Trust Arena at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6.