North Dakota's offense was firing on all cylinders as they handed Oral Roberts a 79-62 defeat at the Mabee Center. Zach Kraft stole the show, pouring in 22 points to lead the charge. The victory marked a significant departure from the pre-game prediction, which had Oral Roberts narrowly edging North Dakota by 0.7 points. Instead, the Fighting Hawks controlled the tempo from start to finish, never trailing in the contest.
The first half set the tone for the game, with North Dakota building a 36-28 lead behind Kraft's 12 points. Luke Gray did his best to keep Oral Roberts afloat, scoring 10 points in the opening stanza, but the Golden Eagles couldn't keep pace. The second half was more of the same, as North Dakota's offense continued to hum, scoring 43 points to Oral Roberts' 34. Eli King and Greyson Uelmen provided supporting roles, scoring 18 and 14 points, respectively, as the Fighting Hawks' balanced attack proved too much for the Golden Eagles to handle.
Oral Roberts' top performer, Luke Gray, finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Chase Martin added 12 points and 7 rebounds, while Ty Harper chipped in 7 points and 5 rebounds, but the Golden Eagles' offense struggled to find consistency. The loss drops Oral Roberts to 5-16 on the season, and this defeat will be particularly disappointing given that it was a Quadrant 4 game, which are crucial for teams looking to bolster their resume.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
For North Dakota, the win improves their record to 11-12, and while it was also a Quadrant 4 game, the dominant performance will still be a welcome addition to their resume. The Fighting Hawks' ability to take care of business on the road against a struggling opponent is a positive sign, and they want to build on this momentum as they continue their season. With a current net ranking of 291, North Dakota still has work to do to climb the standings, but this win is a step in the right direction.
The fact that this game was predicted to be a close contest, with Oral Roberts expected to win by less than a point, makes the final margin of 17 points all the more surprising. CHD Scout's prediction was off the mark, and North Dakota's convincing victory will likely lead to a reevaluation of their chances in future games. As the season wears on, North Dakota want to use this win as a springboard to bigger things, and their tournament chances will depend on their ability to replicate this level of performance against tougher opponents. For now, the Fighting Hawks can enjoy a well-deserved win, and the confidence boost that comes with it.