by By Josh McSwain
CONWAY, Ark. – Elijah Brooks had a season high 12 points against New Orleans on Saturday, but the final two were the most memorable of his young career as he dunked the ball at the buzzer to give the Fighting Hawks a 71-69 win over the Privateers.
Treysen Eaglestaff set up Brooks for the final assist of the game and led all scorers with 23 points. Amar Kuljuhovic also notched his first career double-double with 15 points and ten rebounds.
NoDak started out slowly in the first half, unable to get in a rhythm offensively and trailed by as many as 16 points in the opening half. But the Fighting Hawks stuck with it and closed the half on a 9-0 run to trim the margin from 34-18 to 34-27 going into intermission. Kuljuhovic made a layup, then went 2-2 from the line and then Eaglestaff scored the final five points of the half on a three and then a layup with four ticks left.
Despite the momentum from the end of the half going the way of UND, New Orleans was able to go back ahead by double digits early in the second half. But the Fighting Hawks chipped away, and with 6:56 to go Eaglestaff hit from downtown to put the green and white ahead for the first time at 47-46. Eaglestaff scored all eight of an 8-0 run that put NoDak on top. But New Orleans fought back and took a 60-51 lead with 2:39 left, but just like the first half UND closed the half on a 9-0 run that tied the game at 60; which provided five minutes of extra basketball.
With 1:12 left in overtime, New Orleans led 69-65. But in clutch time, UND took the reins. Eaglestaff hit a fast break layup, then B.J. Omot got out on the break with a dunk to tie the game at 69 and then Eaglestaff fed Brooks for the final points of the game to win it at the gun for the Fighting Hawks.
