GRAND FORKS, N.D.-- Behind a season-high 17 points from Alonzo Traylor, the University of North Dakota men's basketball team ran past Presentation College, 74-32 Thursday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Traylor made all eight of his shots from the floor as the home team snapped a five-game losing skid in its final non-conference tuneup.
Taylor's perfect night from the field, coupled with a 4-for-4 effort from senior Doug Archer, who was making his first start since the first two games of his redshirt freshman season, helped UND shoot a season-high 54.7 percent from the field.
The Saints tried to slow down the pace in the first half, but that tactic did not keep UND from opening up a comfortable lead early in the game. In fact, UND would led wire-to-wire, holding the Saints to just 10 first-half points.
After the break, UND used a 10-2 spurt to grow its advantage to 26, part of its 46 second-half outburst against the NCAA Division III school. UND got contributions from its entire roster as all 10 UND players that saw the floor scored with five players etching at least eight points.
Aaron Anderson and Josh Schuler each scored nine points with eight apiece from Jamal Webb and Archer. Anderson and Schuler each went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc as UND knocked down 11 triples in the contest.
The Saints managed to make just 4-of-13 from deep and only shot 31.1 percent from the field for the game.
Webb also tied his career-high with five steals as the UND defense forced 24 turnovers. Sixteen of those were steals and the team also added a season-high 11 blocks.
After the break, UND used a 10-2 spurt to grow its advantage to 26, part of its 46 second-half outburst against the NCAA Division III school. UND got contributions from its entire roster as all 10 UND players that saw the floor scored with five players etching at least eight points.
Aaron Anderson and Josh Schuler each scored nine points with eight apiece from Jamal Webb and Archer. Anderson and Schuler each went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc as UND knocked down 11 triples in the contest.
The Saints managed to make just 4-of-13 from deep and only shot 31.1 percent from the field for the game.
Webb also tied his career-high with five steals as the UND defense forced 24 turnovers. Sixteen of those were steals and the team also added a season-high 11 blocks.
Traylor and senior Mitch Wilmer, who had three blocks for the fourth time in a game this season, each had six rebounds to pace a 33-25 advantage for UND on the glass.
Presentation (4-6) was led by 10 points each from Darrell Farr and Chaz Haymond.
North Dakota heads to Southern Utah Monday to open Big Sky Conference play. Tipoff with the Thunderbirds is set for 8:30 p.m. Central on Big Sky TV and 100.3 FM Cat Country.
Notes: UND's 32 points given up were a DI record low allowed by a UND team ... Illinois Tech scored 33 in a 91-33 decision during the 2008-09 season ... Jamal Webb picked up five steals Thursday to move him into third place all-time in the UND career record books ... Both teams combined for just 13 personal fouls (Presentation 8, UND 5) ... Presentation did not make a free throw in the loss (0-2) ... The frontcourt of Traylor and Archer combined to go 12-for-12 from the floor for 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
