North Dakota's Greyson Uelmen stole the show at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center, scoring 26 points to lead the Fighting Hawks to a convincing 96-80 win over South Dakota. The victory marked a strong performance by North Dakota, who never trailed in the second half. Uelmen's scoring outburst was complemented by Garrett Anderson's 17 points and 7 rebounds, as well as Eli King's all-around effort of 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The game got off to a high-scoring start, with North Dakota taking a 49-41 lead into halftime. The Fighting Hawks' offense continued to click in the second half, as they extended their lead to as many as 20 points. South Dakota's Jordan Crawford did his best to keep the Coyotes in the game, scoring 24 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of North Dakota. Isaac Bruns added 21 points for South Dakota, while Cameron Fens chipped in with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
The 16-point margin of victory was a reflection of North Dakota's dominance, as they controlled the tempo of the game from start to finish. The Fighting Hawks' ability to score from both inside and outside, combined with their strong rebounding effort, made it difficult for South Dakota to mount a comeback. North Dakota's 49-point first half set the tone for the game, and they never looked back.
The win improves North Dakota's record to 12-12, while South Dakota falls to 11-11. While neither team is likely to make a deep run in the tournament, the victory is still an important one for North Dakota's resume. The game was classified as a Quadrant 4 contest for both teams, meaning it won't carry significant weight in terms of tournament implications. However, the win does help North Dakota build momentum and confidence as they head into the final stretch of the season.
For South Dakota, the loss is a setback, but not a devastating one. The Coyotes are still very much in the hunt for a postseason berth, and they want to bounce back from this loss in their next game. Jordan Crawford's strong performance was a positive takeaway from the game, and he want to build on that effort as the season wears on.
In the end, North Dakota's strong team performance and Greyson Uelmen's standout scoring effort made the difference here. The Fighting Hawks' ability to take care of business at home is a good sign for their chances of making a push in the conference standings. As for their tournament chances, the win over South Dakota won't move the needle significantly, but it does help North Dakota build a more complete resume. With several games still left to play, the Fighting Hawks want to continue their strong play and see where it takes them.