Thunderbirds Dominate Early, Fall Short in Finale of Homestand

United Tribes' men's basketball team had an action-packed weekend, hosting three NJCAA teams from Minnesota. The Thunderbirds showcased their offensive prowess in a pair of wins but fell just short in a close finish to cap off the weekend.

Friday: Thunderbirds Roar to Victory Over Minnesota North Mesabi Range

On Friday night, United Tribes came out strong in the second half, using a decisive 40-7 run to break open a tight game and cruise to a 110-70 victory over Minnesota North Mesabi Range. Despite battling foul trouble, sophomore Houston Davis led the Thunderbirds' balanced attack, contributing 16 points. Ty Moccasin added a spark off the bench with 15 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. Drew Bordeaux and Jacobly Pearson also reached double figures, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively, in a comprehensive team effort.

Saturday: Thunderbirds Rally for Thrilling Win Against St. Cloud Tech

The following day, the Thunderbirds faced a tough challenge against St. Cloud Technical & Community College coming off a win at Bismarck State the previous night. After falling behind 66-42 in the second half, United Tribes mounted an incredible 32-6 run, capped by two clutch free throws from Caleb Cole that gave them a 74-72 lead. The Thunderbirds would go on to hold off a late push from St. Cloud to secure a 101-93 victory.

Houston Davis led the way again, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Jacolby Pearson knocked down five three-pointers to score 22 points while also dishing out 7 assists. Cole was perfect at the free throw line, going 10-for-10 to contribute 15 points and 7 rebounds.

Sunday: Thunderbirds Fall Just Short Against Minnesota West

United Tribes ended their three-game homestand with a hard-fought contest against the Bluejays of Minnesota West Community College. The game was much slower-paced than the previous two, and although the Thunderbirds clawed their way back, they ran out of possessions, falling 75-73.

Caleb Cole nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Mark Fassett added 11 points, and both Davis and Dalen Leftbear chipped in 10 points each. Davis also contributed 5 assists, but the Thunderbirds couldn't quite finish off the late comeback.

Looking Ahead: Road Trip to Wyoming

United Tribes will look to bounce back this weekend as they hit the road for a Friday night matchup against Laramie County Community College in Gillette, Wyoming. The Thunderbirds will follow up with a Saturday contest against Gillette College's Pronghorns.