GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Interstat) — A stunning second-half collapse by Omaha and a relentless surge from North Dakota culminated in a dramatic 76-73 victory for the Fighting Hawks in a Summit League men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at Engelstad Arena.

The Mavericks, who led by as many as 15 points in the first half and entered the break with a commanding 42-29 advantage, saw their offense stagnate and their defense falter after halftime. North Dakota outscored Omaha 47-31 in the second period, erasing the deficit with a combination of aggressive transition play and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic minute. With North Dakota clinging to a 72-70 lead, Omaha’s Lance Waddles grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a putback layup to tie the game with five seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds play, North Dakota’s Greyson Uelmen was fouled by Omaha’s Grant Stubblefield with 4.4 seconds on the clock.

Uelmen, a 6-foot-2 guard from Excelsior, Minnesota, calmly sank both free throws to put the Fighting Hawks ahead 74-72. After an Omaha timeout, the Mavericks’ inbounds play resulted in a heavily contested three-point attempt by Ja’Sean Glover that missed. North Dakota’s George Natsvlishvili secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled with one second left. The 6-foot-10 forward from Tbilisi, Georgia, made both free throws to seal the outcome at 76-72 before Omaha’s Tony Osburn hit a meaningless three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.

The game’s pivotal shift was rooted in stark statistical contrasts. North Dakota, despite shooting just 5 of 26 from three-point range and 23 of 60 overall from the field, generated 18 fastbreak points to Omaha’s three. More critically, the Fighting Hawks attempted 38 free throws, making 25, while Omaha went 14 of 22 from the line. North Dakota also committed only three turnovers, converting Omaha’s 11 giveaways into 10 points.

Uelmen led North Dakota with 21 points, including the game-winning free throws, and added three assists. Eli King of Caledonia, Minnesota, provided a crucial all-around effort with 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a block in 38 minutes. Natsvlishvili finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Anthony Smith III of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, scored 11 points off the bench.

Omaha was led by Grant Stubblefield’s game-high 22 points. The 6-foot-1 guard from Overland Park, Kansas, also recorded two blocks. Ja’Sean Glover of Madelia, Minnesota, added 13 points, and Lance Waddles of Shreveport, Louisiana, scored 11. The Mavericks shot a higher percentage from the field (25 of 60) and from three-point range (9 of 27) but were ultimately undone by their inability to get stops in transition or secure key defensive rebounds down the stretch.

The loss dropped Omaha to 12-13 overall. The Mavericks had won three of their last four games, including a 90-79 home victory over this same North Dakota team on Jan. 8. North Dakota improved to 14-12 with the win, which was projected as a narrow favorite by pregame oddsmakers.

A sparse crowd of 933 at The Betty witnessed a game of two halves. Omaha controlled the opening period with efficient offense, building its large lead behind Stubblefield’s driving ability and early contributions from 7-foot-1 center Christian Richardson, who scored eight points. North Dakota struggled to find any offensive rhythm, shooting poorly from distance and failing to convert at the rim.

The second half was a complete reversal. North Dakota intensified its defensive pressure, sped up the tempo, and began attacking the basket with purpose. A 14-4 run early in the half brought the Fighting Hawks back into contention, and they finally took their first lead since the opening minutes midway through the period on a Greyson Uelmen layup that made it 49-47.

The teams traded leads several times in the final ten minutes, setting the stage for the frantic finish. Omaha’s last lead came at 70-68 after two Stubblefield free throws with 1:15 remaining, but North Dakota answered with a driving layup from King and the critical free throws from Uelmen to escape with the comeback victory.

Omaha next travels to face North Dakota State on Saturday. North Dakota remains at home to host Denver on Saturday.