United Tribes Defeats Bismarck State 87-71
Thunderbirds pull away from Mystics in conference opener
United Tribes Defeats Bismarck State 87-71
The United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds shook off the rust from their holiday break and powered past the Bismarck State College Mystics 87-71 in a hard-fought men's basketball contest on Tuesday evening after a lengthy break in action.
From the opening tip, the game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the first half. UTTC led by just five points at halftime, but head coach Pete Conway knew his team had more to offer in the second half.
"Both teams haven't played in about three or four weeks, so it took a little while to get back into rhythm," Conway explained. "We had a lead at halftime, but it felt like a sluggish half. We gave up a few easy baskets and missed some layups. The message to the guys was simple: We can play a lot better, especially on offense."
In the second half, the Thunderbirds found their groove, gradually pulling away from the Mystics. Conway credited the improved flow of the game to adjustments made in the second half, including a change in defensive pressure. "We went with some three quarter court pressure, which helped us speed them up, give them a short clock, and created some easy buckets," Conway said.
A key factor in the Thunderbirds' victory was their dominance on the boards. Despite Bismarck State's solid 36 total rebounds, the Mystics only managed 11 offensive rebounds, while UTTC grabbed 17 offensive boards. The Thunderbirds had stressed the importance of controlling the glass, knowing that Bismarck State thrives on second-chance points.
Leading the way for the Thunderbirds was sophomore guard Houston Davis, who tallied 24 points in the win. Drew Bordeaux also contributed with three three-pointers and 15 points. However, the standout performance came from forward Zi White Woman, who turned in his best game of the season. White Woman finished with 22 points, shooting an impressive 10-for-13 from the field, while also leading the team with seven rebounds.
"Zi probably had his best game of the year, especially coming against a conference opponent," said Conway. "He made the right plays when it was in his hands and had some really good post-entry passes and kick outs. He always plays hard, but tonight might have been his best game."
The Thunderbirds shot 30-for-70 from the field, including eight three-pointers, to seal the win. The victory puts them in a strong position as they now prepare for a tough back-to-back series against Dawson and Miles on Sunday and Monday.
"It doesn't get any easier," Conway noted. "We've got probably the two best teams in the Mon-Dak coming in here. We just have to continue to stay together. It's a long conference season, and we'll keep fighting."
The Thunderbirds will look to build on this performance as they host two of the top teams in the conference. Tribes hosts Dawson Community College on Sunday at 3pm and Miles Community College on Monday at 7:30pm.