(UND Athletics) GRAND FORKS – North Dakota’s bench erupted for 42 points in the 67-52 win over Utah Tech inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center on Friday afternoon. The game featured seven lead changes and five ties.
The Fighting Hawks led 59-48 with 6:05 left and only allowed four points from the Trailblazers in the final moments to secure the 67-52 victory.
UND held a 48-46 edge on the score board midway through the final period before going on a 9-1 run to extend its lead to double digits at 57-47 with just under nine minutes left. North Dakota’s run was highlighted by a 4-for-4 showing at the line from Caleb Nero and a triple from Treysen Eaglestaff. Utah Tech would not get closer than nine points after that point.
B.J. Omot poured in a team-high 16 points while corralling three rebounds and dishing out two assists. He also had one of UND’s four blocks in the contest.
Nero chipped in a season-high 15 points and was a perfect 8-for-8 at the charity stripe. He also paced the team in assists with five.
Brady Danielson added 11 points and led the team in rebounds with six.
Eaglestaff, Matt Norman and A’Jahni Levias each added six points apiece.
North Dakota’s bench did most of the damage, outscoring Utah State’s reserves by a 42-5 margin. The Fighting Hawks recorded a 36-26 advantage in the paint and a 36-27 edge in rebounds. UND also rejected four of UTU’s scoring attempts.
The Trailblazers scored 11 points off 19 Fighting Hawk turnovers. North Dakota exchanged 11 turnovers from Utah Tech for eight points.
The Fighting Hawks shot 50.0 percent (24-for-48) and hit five shots from beyond the arc. UND was also an impressive 14-for-15 from the line. Comparatively, the Trailblazers hit 35.1 percent of their shots (20-for-57) while adding five triples. UTU was 8-for-16 at the stripe.
North Dakota will return to action on Saturday, hosting Cal State Fullerton at 1 p.m. (CT).
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