UC Irvine defeats N Dakota St 73-74

UC Irvine Upsets N Dakota St in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown

The Don Haskins Center was electric on Tuesday night as the No. 15-ranked (AP) N Dakota St Bison hosted the No. 23-ranked (AP) UC Irvine Anteaters in a high-stakes non-conference matchup. The visiting Anteaters emerged victorious, 74-73, in a heart-stopping thriller that saw both teams trade baskets and neither able to gain more than a two-point advantage over the final six minutes.

As the teams headed into halftime, it appeared as though N Dakota St had control of the game. The Bison were up by 7 points, 33-40, but UC Irvine's offense came out with renewed energy in the second half, leading to a back-and-forth affair that saw neither team give an inch.

In the end, it was UC Irvine's ability to weather the storm and score when it mattered most that proved decisive. The Anteaters' senior guard, Evan Leonard, led his team with 23 points on 8-16 shooting from the field, including 3-7 from beyond the arc.

The Bison struggled to contain Leonard, who consistently found ways to get into the paint despite N Dakota St's best efforts to double-team him. His performance served as a catalyst for the Anteaters' resurgence in the second half, which ultimately propelled them to their first win on the road this season.

Other key statistics that highlighted the game included UC Irvine's impressive 3-point shooting: 11-24 from beyond the arc (45.8%) against N Dakota St's 7-18 (38.9%). The Bison struggled to find consistent three-point range, making just half of their attempts in the first half.

The loss drops N Dakota St's record to 2-4 on the season, while UC Irvine improves to 5-1.

The outcome of this matchup will be significant for both teams moving forward. For UC Irvine, the win over a ranked opponent provides a much-needed boost to its resume, particularly as it navigates the challenging non-conference schedule ahead.