North Dakota Men’s Basketball Edges Kansas City in Thrilling 81-79 Road Victory
UND secures a crucial Summit League win, fueled by balanced scoring and a tenacious defensive effort, moving to 3-1 in conference play.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a back-and-forth contest that came down to the wire, the North Dakota men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 81-79 road victory over Kansas City on Saturday night. All five Hawks starters reached double figures, contributing to a balanced offensive attack that ultimately proved decisive. The win improves UND’s record to 3-1 in Summit League play and 9-11 overall, while the Roos fall to 1-3 in conference action and 4-14 on the season.
The Hawks faced a determined Kansas City squad and found themselves trailing for the majority of the game, leading for just 11 minutes and 5 seconds. North Dakota finally seized its first lead with 12:48 remaining, as an Anthony Smith III layup put them ahead 58-56. This marked a turning point in a game characterized by momentum swings.
“We knew coming into this game it would be a battle,” a senior player stated after the game. “Kansas City is a tough team, especially at home, but we stayed composed and executed our game plan.”
The game remained tight in the closing minutes. Following a free throw by Greyson Uelmen with 14 seconds left to extend the lead to 81-79, Kansas City had one final opportunity. However, Karmello Branch’s three-point attempt from the corner fell short, sealing the victory for North Dakota.
Anderson Leads Balanced Attack
Garrett Anderson spearheaded the offensive charge, delivering a season-high 22 points on an efficient 8-of-16 shooting performance, along with four crucial steals. Anderson ignited the Hawks’ second-half comeback, scoring nine points in the first 96 seconds of the frame after North Dakota trailed by seven at halftime.
Josh Jones also had a standout performance, recording his second career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end. Zach Kraft contributed 12 points, showcasing his shooting prowess by going 4-of-4 from beyond the arc in the second half. Eli King (11 points) and Uelmen (13 points) rounded out the quintet of double-figure scorers.
Notably, the Hawks are now 6-0 this season when five players score 10 or more points, highlighting the importance of their balanced attack.
Turnovers Prove Decisive
Despite being outshot from the field (54.0% for Kansas City vs. 46.8% for UND), North Dakota’s relentless defense forced 18 Roo turnovers, while committing a season-low five themselves. This resulted in a significant 23-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
“Our defensive intensity was key tonight,” one analyst noted. “Forcing turnovers and capitalizing on those opportunities was a major factor in the win.”
Kansas City’s U’Riyah Evans (24 points), Branch (20 points), and Jayson Petty (18 points) combined for 62 of the Roos’ 79 points. However, it wasn’t enough to overcome North Dakota’s balanced scoring and defensive pressure.
Second-Half Surge Seals Victory
After trailing throughout the first half, falling behind by as many as 10 points, North Dakota chipped away at the deficit. A 10-0 run early in the second half, holding Kansas City scoreless for over four minutes, propelled the Hawks to a 61-56 lead.
Although Kansas City briefly regained the lead with an 8-0 run of their own, UND responded with an 8-0 run fueled by clutch three-pointers from Kraft, establishing an 80-72 advantage with 1:21 remaining. Despite a late push from the Roos, North Dakota held on for the 81-79 victory.
Looking Ahead
North Dakota returns home next week for two games at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Hawks will face St. Thomas on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT, with coverage available on the Summit League Network and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network.
Postgame Notes:
- UND now holds a 7-9 all-time record against Kansas City.
- The win snapped an eight-game Summit League road losing streak.
- It marked the first victory at Swinney Center for UND since January 13, 2024.
- All five starters scored in double figures.
- Anderson achieved a career-high as a Hawk with 22 points and four steals.
- UND forced 18 turnovers while committing only five, tying a season-high turnover margin.
- Jones secured his first double-double as a Hawk with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- North Dakota scored 23 points off turnovers, compared to just three for Kansas City.
- UND is now 4-3 in games decided by five points or less, winning their last three such contests.
- Kraft tied a season-high with four three-pointers, shooting 4-of-4 from deep in the second half.
- This was the Hawks’ third win this season when trailing at halftime.
- North Dakota is 3-1 in conference play for the first time since the 2016-17 season, when the team was in the Big Sky Conference and reached the NCAA Tournament.
For more information on North Dakota men’s basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmbasketball.
— UND —
