Fightin' Hawks Edge Tommies 67-66 in Summit League Thriller

North Dakota advances to championship game after nail-biting semifinal win

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The No. 3 seed North Dakota Fightin' Hawks defeated the second-seeded Saint Thomas Tommies 67-66 in a thrilling Summit League Tournament semifinal matchup. Greyson Uelmen led the way for North Dakota with 28 points, while George Natsvlishvili made a free throw with 0.1 seconds left to seal the victory. North Dakota will now face No. 1 seed North Dakota State in the championship game on Sunday.

Why it matters

The Summit League Tournament is a high-stakes event that determines which team will represent the conference in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. This close semifinal game showcases the competitive nature of the tournament and the high level of talent in the Summit League.

The details

Uelmen shot an impressive 9-of-11 from the field and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line for the Fightin' Hawks. Eli King added 17 points, while Garrett Anderson chipped in 11. For the Tommies, Nolan Minessale led the way with 23 points and 9 rebounds, and Ben Oosterbaan scored 16 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 9, 2026.
  • North Dakota will face North Dakota State in the championship game on Sunday, March 10, 2026.

The players

Greyson Uelmen

A standout player for the North Dakota Fightin' Hawks, Uelmen scored a game-high 28 points in the semifinal victory.

George Natsvlishvili

The North Dakota Fightin' Hawks player made the game-winning free throw with 0.1 seconds left to secure the victory for his team.

Nolan Minessale

The leading scorer for the Saint Thomas Tommies, Minessale had 23 points and 9 rebounds in the losing effort.

Ben Oosterbaan

A key contributor for the Saint Thomas Tommies, Oosterbaan scored 16 points in the semifinal game.

North Dakota Fightin' Hawks

The No. 3 seed in the Summit League Tournament, the Fightin' Hawks advanced to the championship game with their narrow victory over the Tommies.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough game against a great team like St. Thomas. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to win.”

— Greyson Uelmen, North Dakota Fightin' Hawks Player

“It's a tough loss, but we'll learn from this experience and come back stronger. Our guys gave it everything they had out there.”

— Nolan Minessale, Saint Thomas Tommies Player

What’s next

North Dakota will face No. 1 seed North Dakota State in the Summit League Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 10, 2026.

The takeaway

This close semifinal game showcases the competitive nature of the Summit League Tournament and the high level of talent across the conference. Both North Dakota and Saint Thomas demonstrated grit and determination in their pursuit of a championship berth.