'Cats fall 80-75 in Grand Forks

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - North Dakota closed the game on a 6-0 run to beat Weber State 80-75 Saturday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The game was the second game of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge.

The Fighting Hawks led by as many as 11 points in the first half and held a 36-31 lead at halftime. UND led by nine points five minutes into the second half before an 8-0 run by the Wildcats cut the lead to one point with 12:37 to play.

Blaise Threatt made a layup and a free throw that tied the game 60-60 with 7:30 remaining. WSU took its first lead of the second half after a Viljami Vartiainen 3-pointer made it 71-70 with 2:34 to play.

The lead went back and forth several times in the final few minutes. Threatt made a layup with 1:01 to play that gave Weber State a 75-74 lead but the Fighting Hawks made a go-ahead layup with 47 seconds left, then made five free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal the win.

Weber State outshot the Fighting Hawks as WSU shot 53 percent from the field and held UND to 44 percent shooting. WSU knocked down seven 3-pointers and was 12 of 14 from the free throw line. The 'Cats held UND to just four 3-pointers but the Fighting Hawks outrebounded Weber State 40-28.

Three Wildcats scored in double figures. Threatt led the Wildcats in scoring as he finished with 23 points on 9 of 12 shooting. He also knocked down one 3-pointer and had five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Miguel Tomley added 18 points on 5 of 11 shooting and made three 3-pointers.

Vasilije Vucinic added a season-high 14 points off the bench and was 6 of 6 from the field. He also had six rebounds and two assists. Nigel Burris had eight points and seven rebounds before being ejected with 5:25 to play.

WSU played without senior Dyson Koehler who missed the game with a sprained ankle.

The Wildcats are now 4-6 overall. Weber State will face an in-state game next as the Wildcats play at Utah Tech next Friday night in St. George.

WSU's next home games will be on December 18 against Lincoln and December 21 against Utah Valley.

Next Event

Team Stats

Blaise Threatt

Miguel Tomley

Vasilije Vucinic

Nigel Burris

Players Mentioned

Nigel Burris

Dyson Koehler

Blaise Threatt

Miguel Tomley

Viljami Vartiainen

Vasilije Vucinic

Weber State University Athletics