by By Josh McSwain
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Amar Kuljuhovic set new career highs in both points with 19 and rebounds with 15 as the North Dakota men’s basketball team won its third straight game Saturday, defeating Denver 92-78.
B.J. Omot scored 20 points to lead the UND attack, as five players scored in double figures for the second straight game. Treysen Eaglestaff poured in 18, Tyree Ihenacho 14 and Tsotne Tsartsidze with 12. Ihenacho dished out six assists to lead the team.
NoDak jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with layups from Tsartsidze and Omot, but was unable to hold the lead as the half swung back and forth. Denver gained a six point lead at 27-21 with eight minutes left to go in the half, but a 13-6 run from UND over the next six-plus minutes put the Fighting Hawks back on top 34-33 with 1:19 to go. At the half the green and white held a one point edge at 38-37 as Ihenacho drove down the lane and banked in a buzzer beating layup.
Early in the second half the game was tied at 44, when Omot drained a three and then Kuljuhovic scored under the basket to put the Fighting Hawks up by five and would not relinquish the lead the rest of the game. Each time that the Pioneers would come within striking distance, the Fighting Hawks would answer and push the lead back up. The lead eventually swelled into double-digits and the hosts defended their home court with a 14 point win.
