The North Dakota squad, led by Greyson Uelmen's impressive 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, dominated the Missouri-Kansas City team from start to finish, securing an 85-70 victory at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Kansas City, with a record of 4-23, struggled to keep up with North Dakota's offense, which scored 37 points in the first period and 48 points in the second period, totaling 85 points for the game. North Dakota's trend of averaging 74.8 points per game over their last 5 games was surpassed, as they scored 85 points, 10.2 points above their average. The 15-point margin of victory was a welcome change for North Dakota, who had been outscored by 6.2 points per game in their last 5 games, going 3-2 in that stretch.
North Dakota's recent form had been a mixed bag, with wins over South Dakota and Omaha, but losses to North Dakota State and Denver. However, with this win, they improved their record to 16-14, and their NET rank of 276 could see a boost. Kansas City, on the other hand, has been struggling, losing all 5 of their last games, with an average margin of defeat of 19.8 points. Their trend of averaging 64.8 points per game over their last 5 games continued, as they scored 70 points, 5.2 points above their average. The Roos' top performer, Trey Booker-Lowery, had 21 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Fighting Hawks' balanced attack.
North Dakota's Greyson Uelmen Scores 23 Points in 85-70 Win Over Kansas City
Beyond the impressive stat lines, it was clear that Greyson Uelmen was the catalyst for North Dakota's victory. He hit several big shots, including a 3-pointer with 10 minutes left in the game, which put the Fighting Hawks up by 12 points. Uelmen's 7 assists also helped to get his teammates involved, with George Natsvlishvili and Zach Kraft both scoring 12 points. On the other hand, Kansas City's Jayson Petty, who had 14 points and 7 rebounds, seemed to vanish in the second half, scoring only 4 points after the break. The Roos' Chris Dockery, who had 10 points, was also quiet in the second half, scoring only 2 points.
The CHD Scout prediction of a 11.7-point North Dakota victory was spot on, as the final margin was 15 points.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
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The prediction was correct because North Dakota's offense was able to exploit Kansas City's defensive weaknesses, particularly in the paint. The Fighting Hawks outscored the Roos 40-26 in the paint, with Uelmen and Kraft doing most of the damage. Additionally, North Dakota's defense was able to limit Kansas City's outside shooting, holding them to 6-23 from beyond the arc. The Roos' reliance on the 3-point shot has been a trend all season, and North Dakota's ability to defend it was a key factor in their victory.
As the season enters its final stretch, this win could have real consequences for North Dakota's tournament chances. With a NET rank of 276, they are still a long shot to make the NCAA tournament, but a strong finish to the season could put them in the conversation for a postseason bid.
The win over Kansas City, a Quad 4 team, won't do much to boost North Dakota's resume, but it does keep them on track for a potential postseason bid. The Fighting Hawks' Quad 4 record is now 4-6, which isn't ideal, but their overall record of 16-14 is still respectable. If they can finish the season strong, with wins over teams like St. Thomas (FL) and Omaha, they could potentially play their way into the tournament conversation. For Kansas City, the loss is just another in a long line of defeats, and their chances of making the tournament are all but gone.
In the end, North Dakota's 85-70 victory over Kansas City was a much-needed win for a team looking to make a push for the postseason. With Greyson Uelmen leading the way, the Fighting Hawks were able to dominate the Roos from start to finish, and their trend of being outscored by 6.2 points per game was finally reversed. As the season enters its final stretch, North Dakota want to build on this momentum and make a push for a tournament bid. With 5 games left in the season, the Fighting Hawks must win at least 3 of them to have a chance at making the postseason.