by By Josh McSwain
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The North Dakota men’s basketball team dropped the second game of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge, falling 74-73 against Northern Arizona. The Fighting Hawks led most of the first half and went back forth in the final minutes of the second half but could not get a winning basket on the final possession of the game.
B.J. Omot led the team with 15 points and tied Tyree Ihenacho with a team high seven rebounds. Treysen Eaglestaff led with four assists and hit four threes to finish with 14 points. Tsotne Tsartsidze also scored in double-figures with 13 points and got the team’s only blocked shot.
The first half belonged to the Fighting Hawks as the first seven points of the game were scored by the visitors, eventually building up to a double-digit lead at 14-4 within the first five minutes. As the half went on, NoDak led by as many as 17 at 40-23 following a triple from Eaglestaff. But NAU chipped away at the UND lead, and at halftime it was a 41-31 lead for the Fighting Hawks.
NAU started the second half on a 10-3 run, making it a one possession game at 44-41. But a big play from Eli King, with a steal and sprint out for a dunk, momentum went back to UND. Over the next couple of minutes, the teams went back and forth but NAU tied the game at 48. Omot responded with a basket and then a free throw from Amar Kuljuhovic made it a three-point game. NAU tied it back up on the next possession then took their first lead of the game after. With 8:10 to go Eaglestaff tied the game up again at 59 with a three pointer, but NAU would hold onto the lead until the final minute when Eli King sliced through the defense to make a layup that put UND up 73-72. A basket on the other end made it 74-73, and despite two looks from three on the final possession neither went down for the green and black as NAU held on for the win on their court.
