by By Josh McSwain
CONWAY, Ark. – The North Dakota men’s basketball team notched its first five game winning streak since February of 2017 with another dramatic win—this time defeating Eastern Michigan 72-70.
Tsotne Tsartsidze notched his fifth career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds—leading the team on the glass. It was his first since February 23 of last season against Western Illinois. Treysen Eaglestaff led the team with 22 points, the second Fighting Hawk to have back-to-back 20+ point games this season.
In a reversal from yesterday, the Fighting Hawks got out to a fast start in this game; leading by as many as nine in the opening ten minutes. UND never trailed in the first half, and both teams shot an identical 12-29 from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Despite a late run from EMU, the green and white took a 34-32 edge into the halftime break.
Amar Kuljuhovic got the first basket of the second half, but from there momentum swung to the side of the Eagles; who built up their largest lead at nine points with 12:27 left. After the media timeout, Tsartsidze hit from three point land to make make it a six point game, the start of a 7-0 run that got UND back within two points. While EMU held the lead most of the second half, with 1:18 to go Eaglestaff went 3-3 from the foul line to give NoDak a 69-67 edge. With 19 seconds left B.J. Omot hit 2-2 from the line and made it a four point game. A late three brought EMU back within one, but Brady Danielson hit a foul shot late to make it a two point game and UND hung on for the win.
