Omaha tops North Dakota 80-78

Mar 3, 2015, 10:28 pm

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- CJ Carter scored 11 points and the game-winning free throw on Tuesday and Omaha rallied to beat North Dakota 80-78 in its final game of the season.

Devin Patterson and Tre'Shawn Thurman scored 14 points apiece, Mike Rostampour had 12, and Kyler Erickson and Jake White 10 apiece for the Mavericks (12-17, 5-11 Summit), who have won three straight.

Omaha finished eighth in the Summit League standings, but is still ineligible for the NCAA postseason after beginning its transition to the Division I level prior to the 2011-12 season. The team will be eligible beginning next season.

Trailing 43-41 at halftime, Omaha rallied to a 69-66 second-half lead on a 3-pointer by Carter, but North Dakota retook the lead 78-77 on a 3 by Terrel de Rouen with 1:25 to go. Cater put Omaha up 79-78 with free throws with 1:10 left, then Thurman iced it with one of two free throws.

Quinton Hooker scored 23 and Lenny Antwi 12 for North Dakota(8-21, 4-13 Big Sky Conference), which has lost eight straight.