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GRAND FORKS — North Dakota State ahead Andrew Morgan stood on the foul line with seconds remaining in NDSU’s recreation at UND on Saturday.
Morgan missed his free throw. Gamers scrambled for the ball till UND ahead Amar Kuljuhovic got here up with it and handed to protect Tyree Ihenacho.
Ihenacho ran down the courtroom and located Kuljuhovic within the paint, the place he laid the ball in to take a 60-58 lead over NDSU with 2.6 seconds left.
That ended up being the game-winning shot for the Preventing Hawks, who prolonged their win streak to 6 video games.
“For a second, I used to be frozen,” Kuljuhovic mentioned. “That was my first game-winner ever in my profession. I loved the second, however as soon as they referred to as the timeout, I knew we needed to get locked again in collectively for one cease, and we did simply that.”
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UND coach Paul Sather opted to not name a timeout after Kuljuhovic secured the rebound on the missed free throw.
“Over teaching, for me, normally would not assist rather a lot,” he mentioned. “I actually belief Tyree. I belief our group. One of the best factor you are able to do is assault them in transition, not name timeout to allow them to get arrange. In my years doing this, I’ve had extra success when you’ve guys on the market you may belief that they will discover a method to make the best play. And, boy, they certain did tonight.”
UND’s win got here even supposing they had been outshot by NDSU and solely led for six minutes, 12 seconds of the sport.
The Bison shot 48% and 36.4% from three, whereas UND shot 37.5% and was simply 5-for-22 from three.
“This was a tough win,” Sather mentioned. “We did not win as a result of we shot nice. We did not win as a result of all the pieces was simple and excellent. We gained as a result of we confirmed a number of grit.”
Ihenacho led UND with 15 factors and 9 rebounds. Kuljuhovic had 11 factors and 13 rebounds, and Tsotne Tsartsidze added 10 factors.
B.J. Omot had 9 factors within the win, the primary recreation he’s been held to single-digit scoring since Dec. 31 at South Dakota State.
UND outrebounded NDSU 39-32. Fourteen of UND’s boards got here on the offensive glass.
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Morgan led NDSU with 14 factors. Boden Skunberg and Jacari White every had 12 factors for the Bison.
“Our guys have been by way of a gauntlet the final 125 minutes,” NDSU coach Dave Richman mentioned. “I’ve seen loads of progress. If we discover that constant model that we’re working towards, which I’m beginning to see extra commonly, we now have an opportunity to do something we need to accomplish as we transfer ahead.”
With the win, UND (14-10) grew to become the top-ranked group within the Summit League with a 6-3 convention document. The gamers aren’t celebrating that but, although, as a result of the Summit is what Kuljuhovic referred to as a “wide-open convention.”
“There’s groups which can be one win away from being first place,” he mentioned. “Now we have to maintain staying hungry it doesn’t matter what and maintain enjoying how we’re.”
NDSU (10-13, 3-5 SL) fell to No. 8 within the standings within the nine-team league. The Bison will host UND Feb. 24 for a rematch.
“One of the best half is we get to see them once more at our place, in order that’s one thing we will be trying ahead to,” Morgan mentioned. “Positively going to carry some sting over from this one.”
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