Bledsoe leads North Dakota to 67-62 victory

Travis Bledsoe scored a career-high 28 points as North Dakota defeated Utah Valley 67-62 Thursday night in its Great West Conference opener.

The Fighting Sioux (3-14) used a 7-0 run midway through the second half to take the lead for good, then held on in the final minute.

Jourdain Scoubes led the Wolverines (7-9, 1-1) with 12 points while Corey Claitt added 11.

North Dakota trailed 48-47 with 8:59 play but scored the next seven points. Utah Valley pulled to within 60-57 on Claitt's jumper with 34 seconds remaining, but the Sioux responded with a 5-0 run, all on free throws by Bledsoe, to secure the victory.

Bledsoe scored 17 of his points in the in the first half on 7-of-9 shooting, helping the Sioux shoot 66.7 percent (14 of 21). Utah Valley, however, led 35-33 at halftime thanks in part to six 3-pointers.