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OREM, Utah – The North Dakota State men's basketball team claimed a 74-70 road victory at Utah Valley University on Monday, Dec. 23, improving to 10-4 on the season. The win was the first by a road team in the eight-game series between NDSU and UVU.
 
Senior Taylor Braun led NDSU with 20 points and eight assists, and junior Lawrence Alexander scored 19 points.
 
Senior Jordan Aaberg scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds off the bench after starter Marshall Bjorklund was ejected for a flagrant-2 foul with 1:15 remaining in the first half.
 
Utah Valley (5-7) received 22 points from senior guard Holton Hunsaker, including 14 points in the game's first seven minutes. The home loss was the first of the season for the Wolverines.
 
Utah Valley opened up a 24-14 lead midway through the first half, but NDSU strung together a 17-2 run over five minutes to take a 31-26 lead with 4:43 to play in the half. The Bison led by as many as nine points in the first half and held a 45-38 advantage at the break.
 
The Wolverines rallied to take a 62-61 lead on a Keawe Enos layup with 7:48 to play. A putback dunk by TrayVonn Wright gave NDSU a 66-65 edge with just over six minutes remaining, and NDSU would lead the rest of the way.
 
Sophomore Chris Kading sealed the victory with a tip-in with 27 seconds remaining, followed by a blocked shot at the defensive end.
 
The Bison shot 27-for-51 (52.9 percent) for the game, improving on the 51-percent clip that ranks them seventh in the nation as a team. NDSU posted a 38-14 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Wright played a season-high 38 minutes for NDSU.
 
NDSU will host Mayville State on Jan. 4 in the final non-conference game of the season for the Bison.