Denver Pioneers defeat North Dakota Fightin' Hawks 98-79

Carson Johnson scores 22 points as Denver hands North Dakota its first conference loss of the season.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Denver Pioneers defeated the North Dakota Fightin' Hawks 98-79 in a Summit League matchup on Saturday. Carson Johnson led the way for Denver with 22 points and 7 assists, while Logan Kinsey and Jeremiah Burke each added 20 points. North Dakota was led by Greyson Uelmen's 24 points, but the loss snapped their 5-game winning streak.

Why it matters

This was an important conference game between two teams with winning records in the Summit League. The victory for Denver hands North Dakota its first conference loss of the season and shakes up the standings in the tight Summit League race.

The details

Denver jumped out to a 43-27 halftime lead, fueled by 12 first-half points from Zane Nelson. North Dakota made a push in the second half, but Denver was able to hold on for the 19-point victory. The Pioneers shot 54.4% from the field, while North Dakota shot 44.1%.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Carson Johnson

A key player for the Denver Pioneers, scoring 22 points and dishing out 7 assists in the victory.

Greyson Uelmen

The leading scorer for the North Dakota Fightin' Hawks, finishing with 24 points in the losing effort.

Denver Pioneers

The college basketball team from the University of Denver that defeated North Dakota in this Summit League matchup.

North Dakota Fightin' Hawks

The college basketball team from the University of North Dakota that suffered its first conference loss of the season against Denver.

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The takeaway

This was an important conference win for the Denver Pioneers, as they handed the North Dakota Fightin' Hawks their first Summit League loss of the season. The victory shakes up the tight race in the conference standings and shows that Denver can compete with the top teams in the league.