March 10, 2010

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NJIT 70, North Dakota 57

OREM, Utah - In the final quarterfinal game of the Great West Conference basketball tournament, No. 6 seed NJIT defeated third-seeded North Dakota, 70-57.

After NJIT got out to a 12-3 lead at the 14:08 mark in the first half. North Dakota went on an 11-2 run to tie the game at 14-14. The game stayed close throughout the remainder of the first half with North Dakota taking a 28-27 lead into the break.

In the second half, NJIT started pulling away in the final five minutes, building its lead to 12 with three minutes remaining on a three-pointer by second-team all-GWC selection Chris Flores. The Highlanders then increased their lead to 14 before UND's Travis Bledsoe hit a three-pointer with 42 seconds remaining to cut it to 11.

"I thought we defended really well," said NJIT coach Jim Engles. "It was the third time we played them, so our players had a good idea of what they do. That's important because it's hard to defend (North Dakota's) stuff if you're unfamiliar with it. Offensively, I thought we didn't execute well in the first half. But in the second half Chris Flores made some big shots and Isaiah (Wilkerson) did, too. And we got some good effort plays from our bigs."

The Highlanders (10-20) were led by Flores with 21 points, while GWC honorable mention honoree Isaiah Wilkerson added 18.

"I thought our defense really played well in the first half and kept us in the game," UND head coach Brian Jones said. "But, we played sluggish offensively and just could not put a run together. I feel bad for our seniors, those guys fought hard and overcame a lot of adversity."

GWC first-team performer Travis Bledsoe led the Fighting Sioux (8-23) with 19 points, and Derek Benter added 10.

The Highlanders shot 42 percent (22-53) for the game while North Dakota shot 32 percent (17-53).

NJIT (10-20) will face Houston Baptist on Friday in the tournament semifinals.

NJIT-UND Box Score