CANCUN, Mexico - The Wildcats head from one beach to another as they get set to continue the Cancun Challenge, taking on North Dakota on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. 



Tuesday, Nov. 25
Opponent: North Dakota (3-2)
Time: 3:00 p.m. EST
Location: Cancun, Mexico | Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Watch: https://flosports.link/4eVyk9l
Live Stats: https://cancunchallenge.net/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Tickets: https://cancunchallenge.net/sports/2019/2/10/GEN_0210192903.aspx



 B-CU shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half as they dropped the opening game of the 2024 Cancun Challenge to Tulane, 72-57, last Tuesday night at Devlin Fieldhouse. 

It was Bethune-Cookman that jumped in front as Brayon Freeman provided nine of the first 11 B-CU points to go in front, 11-6 through the first six minutes of play. 

A steal and fast break dunk by Kaleb Banks gave Tulane its first lead since the opening minutes at 17-16 midway through the first half. The Green Wave would go up as much as 14 in the half on a Mari Jordan three-ball with three minutes to half.

Through the first 20 minutes of play, Freeman led all scorers with 14, with the rest of the Wildcats combining for just 16 to go into the break down, 42-31.

The Wildcats opened the second half well, keeping pace with Tulane and cutting the deficit to single-digits again at 49-40 on a pair of Freeman free throws. 

From there, the Wildcats went cold as the Green Wave lead ballooned to as much as 18 at 70-55. The Cats managed only nine makes on 31 second-half shots, including two of 11 on threes. Tulane did not fare significantly better, shooting 36 percent from the floor and 2-10 on threes, but it was enough to power the home team to the 72-57 win. 



North Dakota is 3-2 on the young season. The Fighting Hawks won their first game of the Cancun Challenge at Loyola Marymount, 77-73 back on Nov. 22. Their only other DI win came against Utah Valley, 77-71 back on Nov. 14.

North Dakota averages just over 70 points per game and allows 71. As a team, they are shooting 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from three. They out-rebound opponents by around four boards per game, but do turn the ball over an average of four more times per game than opponents. 

Junior guard Treysen Eaglestaff leads the Fighting Hawks offensively, averaging nearly 20 points per game with helm from a 48 percent three-point percentage on 25 shots on the early season. Three other Hawks average over 10 points per game. Sophomore guard Mier Panoam leads his team with just over six rebounds per game and five blocks. 



Tuesday marks the first meeting all-time between B-CU and North Dakota in the history of the two programs. 


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