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Published January 17, 2012, 09:45 PM

MEN'S BASKETBALL: UND takes NDSU down stretch

Missed free throws have cost UND a win or two during its difficult transition to Division I basketball.
In UND’s biggest home game since making the move to Division I, the Green and White hit their free throws down the stretch. As a result, a rarity took place at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Tuesday night as fans rushed the court after UND rallied to beat rival North Dakota State 59-54 before 7,169 fans.

By: Wayne Nelson, Grand Forks Herald

  • UND's Brandon Brekke
    • image
    UND's Brandon Brekke is fouled by NDSU's Dylan Hale late in the second half. At right is NDSU's TrayVonn Wright. Herald photo by Eric Hylden.
  • NDSU's Dylan Hale
  • UND's Patrick Mitchell
  • NDSU's Jordan Aaberg
  • UND's Mike Mathison

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Did you watch the UND - NDSU boys basketball game?

Missed free throws have cost UND a win or two during its difficult transition to Division I basketball.

In UND’s biggest home game since making the move to Division I, the Green and White hit their free throws down the stretch. As a result, a rarity took place at Ralph Engelstad Arena on Tuesday night as fans rushed the court after UND rallied to beat rival North Dakota State 59-54 before 7,169 fans.

“It’s our biggest win since we made the move to Division I,” UND coach Brian Jones said. “It means so much to the guys in our locker room, the community, the administration and our fans.”

The game was the first between the rivals in Grand Forks since 2004. The game came down to defense and UND’s ability to hit free throws in the final four minutes.

UND was 12-for-20 at the line, not a great percentage. But in the final three minutes, UND went to work at the line, starting with center Mitch Wilmer dropping in back-to-back free throws for a 52-50 lead with 3:06 to play.

UND was 7-for-8 at the line in the final three-plus minutes, which was too much for the Bison to overcome.

“Free-throw shooting has been our Achilles’ heel,” Jones said. “This should give us a lot of confidence.”

UND’s confidence also should shoot upward after beating a Bison team that came in 13-4 and is a contender for the Summit League title.

In addition to its success at the line, UND’s defense was the second big part to the win. UND held NDSU to 33 percent shooting.

“I don’t want to take anything away from UND,” NDSU coach Saul Phillips said. “But some of it was our shot selection. Our patience lacked at times.”

NDSU, led by Marshall Bjorklund’s 13 points, led most of the way but couldn’t deliver a big run to put away UND.

NDSU went up 50-45 on Bjorklund’s free throw with 6:03 to go. But the Bison scored only four points the rest of the way.

“We stayed the course,” UND sophomore guard Aaron Anderson said.

After Wilmer’s two free throws, NDSU’s Taylor Braun replied with two free throws to tie the game at 52-52.

Brandon Brekke, who led the way with 17 points and was UND’s offense in the first half, hit one of two free throws for a one-point lead with 2:10 remaining. He went to the line after a flagrant foul was called on Dylan Hale. Shortly after that, Patrick Mitchell’s hard work on the boards resulted in a putback and a 55-52 lead.

UND fans could sense the win. And UND’s players did the rest by making clutch free throws.

“Our guys enjoyed the night,” Jones said. “We talked about not letting the environment getting the best of you.

“Our transition and our journey to Division I has been so hard, with the league scenario and the logo situation. It was a breath of fresh air to put a product out there, enjoy the game and not worry about things you can’t control.”

The win improved UND to 8-9. UND is 8-1 at home.

“They’re pretty good here,” Phillips said.

And for the first time in a long time, UND has some bragging rights — a fact not lost on Josh Shuler, who was one of four UND players in double figures.

“We can call it our state until the next game,” Schuler said.

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