EL PASO, Texas – The North Dakota State men's basketball team lost a one-point game to UC Irvine on Sunday evening in the opening game of the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, falling 74-73 in the final seconds.
 
NDSU dropped to 10-4 on the season. The Bison had won 10 of their last 11 entering the game.
 
Markhi Strickland and Damari Wheeler-Thomas both scored 14 points to lead the Bison. Trevian Carson added 12 points, and Treyson Anderson had 10.
 
NDSU chipped away at an 11-point deficit in the second half, taking a 73-72 lead on a three by Anderson with 1:30 remaining. The Anteaters scored a bucket with just under a minute left to go ahead 74-73, and the game was scoreless the rest of the way.
 
The Bison shot 47 percent for the game and made 11-of-25 (44 percent) from beyond the arc. UC Irvine shot 50 percent overall and went 6-for-17 (35 percent) from three-point range. The Bison were hurt by 19 turnovers and nine missed free throws.
 
Emil Skytta scored a season-best 9 points in a season-high 14 minutes off the NDSU bench.
 
UC Irvine won 32 games last season and was voted the preseason favorite to win the Big West Conference this year.
 
NDSU will play the loser of UTEP-Norfolk State in the consolation game at 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT on Monday evening.