North Dakota Defeats Denver in Dominant Performance
Friday, March 6, 2026, 9:30 PM ET · Denny Sanford Premier Center
North Dakota Fighting Hawks 83, Denver Pioneers 67, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Denver Pioneers vs North Dakota Fighting Hawks?
North Dakota Fighting Hawks beat Denver Pioneers 83-67 at Denny Sanford Premier Center on March 6, 2026.
Who was favored in Denver Pioneers vs North Dakota Fighting Hawks?
Denver Pioneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -162 (about 62% implied). The underdog won.
In a decisive matchup, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks secured a convincing victory over the Denver Pioneers, finishing the game with a score of 83-67. This win not only boosts North Dakota's confidence but also highlights their ability to bounce back after a challenging stretch in their recent form. The game took place at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, showcasing the Fighting Hawks' home advantage.
North Dakota entered the game with a record of 17-16, having experienced a mixed bag of results in their last ten games, with a record of 6-4. However, they were on a two-game losing streak, having lost their previous two games against North Dakota State and South Dakota State. Despite this, they averaged 77.7 points scored per game while allowing 81.0 points, indicating a high-scoring style of play but also revealing defensive vulnerabilities.
On the other hand, the Denver Pioneers, with a record of 15-17, also had a recent record of 6-4 in their last ten games but were coming off a loss against Oral Roberts. Their scoring average was slightly higher at 82.0 points per game, while they allowed 78.4 points, showcasing a similar pattern of offensive prowess paired with defensive struggles. The Pioneers had a mixed away record of 3-2 in their last five games, indicating they could be competitive on the road.
The history between these two teams added an intriguing layer to the matchup, with the head-to-head record standing at 2-2 over the last two seasons. In their most recent encounter on February 7, 2026, the Pioneers defeated the Fighting Hawks 98-79. However, earlier in the season, North Dakota had bested Denver 93-86 on January 24, 2026. This back-and-forth rivalry set the stage for a highly anticipated rematch.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either side, which meant both teams were able to field their strongest lineups. This was crucial for the Fighting Hawks, who needed all hands on deck to overcome their recent struggles and capitalize on their home court advantage.
The betting lines provided by DraftKings indicated that Denver was favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 160.5. This suggested that the market expected a competitive game, though the eventual outcome would prove otherwise as North Dakota dominated the court.
The conditions for the game were typical for a late-season college basketball matchup, with both teams looking to establish momentum heading into the postseason. Fans at the Denny Sanford Premier Center witnessed a spirited performance from the Fighting Hawks, who managed to control the pace of the game and maintain a lead throughout.
Key moments in the second half included a series of scoring plays that extended North Dakota's lead. Logan Kinsey made crucial free throws, while Garrett Anderson contributed with a 19-foot jumper and a dunk, showcasing the team's offensive depth. As the game progressed, North Dakota continued to pull away, with significant contributions from players like Eli King and Carson Johnson, who capped off the scoring with a long three-pointer.
Ultimately, North Dakota's ability to execute their game plan effectively and capitalize on their scoring opportunities led to a dominant performance. The Fighting Hawks finished the game with a strong home win probability of 1.0, underscoring their control over the matchup. This victory not only serves as a morale booster for North Dakota but also sets the stage for their upcoming challenges as they look to build on this success.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | DEN -2.5 | 160.5 o -108 / u -112 | Denver Pioneers -162 · North Dakota Fighting Hawks +136 |
Leaders
- PointsGreyson Uelmen41North Dakota Fighting Hawks
- AssistsEli King3North Dakota Fighting Hawks
- ReboundsMarley Curtis8North Dakota Fighting Hawks
- PointsCarson Johnson17Denver Pioneers
- AssistsZane Nelson4Denver Pioneers
- ReboundsGabe Oldham7Denver Pioneers
Recent form
North Dakota Fighting Hawks
Last 10: 6-4Streak L277.7 scored · 81 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L63-96at North Dakota State BisonFeb 28
- L83-91at South Dakota State JackrabbitsFeb 21
- W85-70vs Kansas City RoosFeb 20
- L66-83vs North Dakota State BisonFeb 14
- W72-71at South Dakota CoyotesFeb 12
- L79-98vs Denver PioneersFeb 7
- W76-73vs Omaha MavericksFeb 6
- W81-80at St. Thomas TommiesJan 30
- W93-86at Denver PioneersJan 24
- W79-62at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesJan 23
Denver Pioneers
Last 10: 6-4Streak L182 scored · 78.4 allowed per game3-2 away
- L80-102at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesFeb 27
- W82-80vs St. Thomas TommiesFeb 21
- W90-70vs South Dakota CoyotesFeb 20
- L76-83at Omaha MavericksFeb 15
- W79-61vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsFeb 13
- W98-79at North Dakota Fighting HawksFeb 7
- W78-71at North Dakota State BisonFeb 6
- L82-84vs Omaha MavericksJan 31
- W69-61at Kansas City RoosJan 29
- L86-93vs North Dakota Fighting HawksJan 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
| North Dakota State | 27-8 | - | 14-2 |
| St. Thomas | 24-10 | 2 | 12-4 |
| North Dakota | 18-17 | 4 | 10-6 |
| South Dakota | 16-16 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Omaha | 16-17 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Denver | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| South Dakota State | 14-18 | 7 | 7-9 |
| Oral Roberts | 10-23 | 10 | 4-12 |
| Kansas City | 4-27 | 13 | 1-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Denver Pioneers | North Dakota Fighting Hawks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 20-46 | 30-61 |
| Field goal % | 43 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 6-21 | 9-23 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 39 |
| Free throws | 21-32 | 14-23 |
| Free throw % | 66 | 61 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 25 |
| Assists | 7 | 14 |
| Steals | 3 | 7 |
| Blocks | 3 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 23 |
| Fast-break points | 0 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 38 |
| Fouls | 19 | 24 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 23 |
| Lead changes | 5 | 5 |
| Time in front | 12 | 86 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half35-57Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half35-58Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-58Carson Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-58Carson Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-60Greyson Uelmen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half40-60Jeremiah Burke makes 24-foot three point jumper (Carson Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half40-62Josh Jones makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half41-62Carson Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-62Carson Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-64Greyson Uelmen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half44-64Jeremiah Burke makes 10-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half46-64Jeremiah Burke makes layup (Zane Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half46-66Garrett Anderson makes layup (Eli King assists)
- 2nd Half48-66Shaun Wysocki makes driving layup (Zane Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half50-66Logan Kinsey makes layup
- 2nd Half50-68Greyson Uelmen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-68Julius Rollins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-70Greyson Uelmen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half51-71Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half51-74Eli King makes 23-foot three point jumper (Reggie Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half52-74Carson Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-74Logan Kinsey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-74Logan Kinsey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-74Carson Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-74Carson Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-74Shaun Wysocki makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-75Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-76Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-77Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-77Carson Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-77Carson Johnson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-77Logan Kinsey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-77Logan Kinsey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-79Garrett Anderson makes 19-foot jumper (Reggie Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half62-81Garrett Anderson makes 1-foot dunk (Josh Jones assists)
- 2nd Half62-82Greyson Uelmen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-83Eli King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-83Carson Johnson makes 28-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half66-83Didier Maleng makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-83Didier Maleng makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours North Dakota Fighting Hawks, below favours Denver Pioneers.
Venue
- Denny Sanford Premier CenterSioux Falls, SD
- Attendance6723
- OfficialsTodd Von Sossan, Brian McNutt, Tim Stewart
Elsewhere
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- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond