GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and defensive pressure, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks delivered a commanding performance to defeat the South Dakota Coyotes 96-80 in a Summit League men’s basketball game Saturday at Engelstad Arena.

North Dakota, improving to 10-12 overall, seized control with a blistering first-half shooting display and never relented, exploiting South Dakota’s ball-handling issues to pull away. The Fighting Hawks shot 54.8% from the field for the game, including a 12-for-26 effort from three-point range, and converted 13 South Dakota turnovers into 15 points.

The most important stretch of the game came early, setting a tone the Coyotes could never overcome. After South Dakota’s Isaac Bruns opened the scoring with a driving layup, North Dakota responded with a decisive 15-2 run over a four-minute span. The surge was fueled by balanced scoring and stifling defense. Greyson Uelmen of Excelsior, Minnesota, knocked down a three-pointer and a jumper, while Eli King of Caledonia, Minnesota, and George Natsvlishvili of Tbilisi, Georgia, added easy baskets inside. The run gave North Dakota a 15-4 lead less than six minutes into the contest, forcing South Dakota to play from behind the rest of the afternoon.

South Dakota, which fell to 10-10, showed resilience behind the scoring of Jordan Crawford and Bruns. Crawford, a guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, finished with 24 points, while Bruns, from North Sioux City, South Dakota, added 21. The Coyotes trimmed a 12-point deficit down to five late in the first half after a three-pointer from Bruns and a tip-in dunk by Cameron Fens of Dubuque, Iowa.

But North Dakota answered emphatically before halftime. In the final 90 seconds, Eli King converted a layup while being fouled and completed the three-point play, and Uelmen buried a three-pointer off an assist from Josh Jones to push the lead back to 49-41 at the break. That sequence halted South Dakota’s momentum and restored a comfortable margin for the home team.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Whenever South Dakota threatened, North Dakota had a counter. After a Cameron Fens dunk brought the Coyotes within 68-62 with just over 13 minutes to play, the Fighting Hawks unleashed a 13-3 run over the next three minutes. The spurt featured a three-pointer from Garrett Anderson of Phoenix, Arizona, who scored 17 points, a layup from Natsvlishvili, and capped by another Anderson three, extending the lead to 81-65 and effectively sealing the outcome.

North Dakota’s offensive execution was superior, assisted by a significant advantage in ball movement and possession. The Fighting Hawks recorded 10 assists to South Dakota’s 3, and committed only five turnovers while forcing 13. They also dominated the interior, outscoring South Dakota 50-28 in the paint and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Uelmen led all scorers with 26 points for North Dakota, showcasing an efficient afternoon from the perimeter. King provided a complete performance with 15 points, six assists and solid defense. Anthony Smith III of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, contributed 15 points off the bench, and Natsvlishvili added 14 points and several key defensive plays.

For South Dakota, Fens joined Crawford and Bruns in double figures with 13 points and two blocks. The Coyotes shot a respectable 47.2% from the field and 83.3% from the free-throw line, but were ultimately overwhelmed by North Dakota’s sustained offensive firepower and ability to capitalize on mistakes.

A crowd of 2,012 watched as North Dakota surpassed the pregame over/under line of 163.5 with a combined 176 points. The Fighting Hawks also outperformed the Interstat ELO system’s projection, which gave them a 53.4% probability to win.

Both teams continue Summit League play next week. North Dakota travels to face Oral Roberts on Thursday. South Dakota visits Omaha on Wednesday.