Treysen Eaglestaff’s Historic Night: A Record-Breaking Performance in the Summit League
In the world of college basketball, there are moments that transcend the game itself, etching themselves into the annals of history. One such moment unfolded on a Friday night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Treysen Eaglestaff delivered a performance for the ages. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks’ star player scored a Summit League-record 51 points, leading his team to an emphatic 85-69 victory over South Dakota State in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
To put Eaglestaff’s achievement into perspective, the previous conference record for the Fighting Hawks was held by Geno Crandall, who scored 41 points in a victory over Troy during the 2017 regular season. Eaglestaff’s 51-point explosion not only shattered that record but also marked the most points scored by a Division I player in any game since Darius Lee of Houston Christian scored 52 in a four-overtime win against McNeese on March 5, 2022. It’s worth noting that Eaglestaff’s feat was accomplished in a non-overtime game, making it the most points scored against a Division I opponent since Markus Howard of Marquette dropped 54 against USC on November 29, 2019.
But Eaglestaff’s night was more than just a statistical marvel. He became only the third Division I player to score 50 points in a conference tournament game in the past 30 years. Earlier in the season, he had already made headlines by scoring 40 points in a loss to Alabama on December 18, making him the only Division I player with multiple 40-point games this season. His shooting was nothing short of spectacular, going 15-for-28 from the floor, including 8-for-18 from beyond the arc, and 13-of-17 from the free-throw line. Eaglestaff’s second-half performance was particularly impressive, as he poured in 28 points to seal the victory for North Dakota.
For North Dakota, Eaglestaff’s 50-point game was the fourth in the school’s history, with two of the others belonging to none other than NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson, who scored 50 and 52 points in games on February 24 and March 11, 1967, respectively.
On the other side of the court, the third-seeded South Dakota State Jackrabbits, who finished the season with a 20-12 record, were led by Oscar Cluff, who put up an impressive 27 points and 17 rebounds. Kalen Garry contributed 12 points and 7 rebounds, while Matthew Mors added 10 points and 7 rebounds. Despite their efforts, the Jackrabbits were unable to contain Eaglestaff’s offensive onslaught.
With this victory, the No. 6 seed North Dakota (12-20) advances to play second-seeded St. Thomas-Minnesota in Saturday’s semifinals. The Tommies, currently in Year 4 of a four-year transition to Division I, are ineligible for the NCAA tournament. If St. Thomas were to win the Summit crown, the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament bid would be awarded to regular-season champion Omaha, even if the Mavericks lose in Saturday’s semifinal against South Dakota.
- Treysen Eaglestaff’s 51 points set a new Summit League record.
- He became the third Division I player to score 50 points in a conference tournament game in the past 30 years.
- North Dakota advances to face St. Thomas-Minnesota in the semifinals.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Eaglestaff and the Fighting Hawks to see if they can continue their Cinderella run. For now, though, Treysen Eaglestaff’s name is etched in the record books, and his performance will be remembered as one of the great individual efforts in college basketball history.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
