Panoam’s Power Play: Hawks Soar Over Kansas City in Thrilling Double-Double Showcase

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Sophomore guard Mier Panoam achieved his second double-double of the season with a 21-point, 10-rebound performance, while North Dakota exhibited a tenacious effort on defense to secure a 76-72 Summit League win over visiting Kansas City on Saturday afternoon inside the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
The intense matchup featured 13 ties and ten lead changes, with the lead varying by just over two and a half minutes, culminating in a tightly contested finish. Panoam maneuvered into the right elbow, executed a subtle shoulder feint to engage his defender, then spun past his opponent for an effortless finish late in the game, providing a crucial bucket as the Hawks pulled ahead 73-69 with 29.2 seconds left.
 
North Dakota wasn’t safe yet as the Roos’ Jayson Petty converted a top-of-the-key shot to narrow the gap to one at 73-72 with 18.4 seconds remaining. Following a pair of free throws from junior guard Eli King, which restored the Hawks’ three-point lead at 75-72, a defensive stand was crucial for UND to fend off the preseason Summit League favorites. The Hawks delivered a defensive stop as the opposition attempted to draw a foul, resulting in a turnover and a 1-of-2 outcome at the free-throw line from junior guard Treysen Eaglestaff, effectively sealing the game.
 
The decisive stop by the Hawks before Eaglestaff’s free throw was one of two significant defensive plays by UND in the closing minute. The first occurred just under 45 seconds remaining, where a near-side inbound play on the Kansas City side resulted in a corner three opportunity, with the Roos down by a basket at 71-69. However, on the inbound, a flashing Deng Mayar made a mid-air interception leading to a travel violation, which set up Panoam’s game-altering spin and drive to the basket.
 
The Roos held a seven-point lead shortly after the halftime break, and North Dakota’s largest lead in the second half reached six at 63-57 with 5:03 left. KC managed to tie the game at 69 with 71 seconds on the clock, but Panoam converted a couple of free throws to give UND a lead that they would not give up.
 
North Dakota directs its focus to the concluding week of round one action in the Summit League. The Hawks will host South Dakota on January 23 before making a brief trip to Fargo for a rivalry contest against North Dakota State on January 25.
 
The game will be broadcasted on Midco Sports and the Summit League Network. Fans can catch the live action with Fighting Hawks men’s basketball radio play-by-play announcer Paul Ralston on KSNR 100.3 FM The Cat or on the iHeart Radio app. Live statistics for the matchup will be available at www.FightingHawks.com.
 
Postgame Highlights

• North Dakota outperformed KC with a shooting percentage of 46.6%, while holding their opponents to 41.3%
• The Hawks’ shooting was the third-best against a Division I opponent this season
• UND’s defensive display limited KC to the second-lowest shooting percentage by a UND Division I opponent this season
• Both teams had nine turnovers, with the Hawks slightly edging KC in points off turnovers (15-14)
• The Hawks achieved 15 assists for the fourth time this season
• UND’s 15 offensive rebounds marked the 20^th consecutive game with 12 or more such rebounds
• The Hawks finished +3 in rebounding and +8 in the paint with 40 points
• Panoam added a career-high three blocks, the most by a Hawk in a single game this season, to his double-double performance, which contributed to UND matching its single-game high with five blocks
• The Tulane transfer and Anchorage native has recorded four 20-point games along with two double-doubles in six Summit League matches
• With two three-pointers, Eaglestaff moved up to fifth place outright on the program’s career list with 187
• Eaglestaff wrapped up with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a steal
• King concluded with 13 points, including three crucial three-pointers, plus six rebounds, four assists, and a block
• Senior forward Amar Kuljuhovic contributed ten points, seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal
• UND held Cameron Faas to 20 points, Jayson Petty to 17, while restricting Jamar Brown to a mere 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting
• This victory represents the sixth overall against KC and the fourth in the last five encounters
• UND’s record improves to 35-55 against league rivals under Sather

 
How It Unfolded
 
First Half
14:55 – UND 11, KC 9 (UND 4-of-last-5 FGs)
10:50 – KC 20, UND 17 (KC 4-of-last-4 FGs)
6:39 – UND 24, KC 22 (KC 3:01 scoring drought)
3:05 – UND 32, KC 29 (UND 3-of-last-3 FGs)
0:23 – KC 34, UND 32 (UND 3:00 scoring drought)
HALF – KC 36, UND 32
 
Second Half
16:00 – KC 39, UND 37 (KC 3:34 scoring drought)
11:24 – KC 46, UND 46 (UND 3-of-last-3 FGs)
7:43 – UND 55, KC 52 (UND 4-of-last-5 FGs)
3:38 – UND 63, KC 61
FINAL – UND 76, KC 72
 
For additional information on North Dakota men’s basketball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDmbasketball.

— UND —