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 when Treysen Eaglestaff of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks delivered a performance for the ages. Eaglestaff scored a Summit League-record 51 points, the highest total in a Division I game this season, leading his team to an 85-69 victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
To put this achievement into perspective, the previous conference record was held by Geno Crandall, who scored 41 points for the Fighting Hawks in a victory over Troy during the 2017 regular season. Eaglestaff’s 51 points are the most by a Division I player in any game since Houston Christian‘s Darius Lee scored 52 in a four-overtime win against McNeese on March 5, 2022. It’s also the most points in a non-overtime game against a Division I opponent since Marquette‘s Markus Howard scored 54 against USC on Nov. 29, 2019.
What makes Eaglestaff’s feat even more remarkable is that he became only the third Division I player to score 50 points in a conference tournament game in the past 30 years. Earlier this season, he scored 40 points in a loss to Alabama on Dec. 18, making him the only Division I player with multiple 40-point games this season.
Let’s break down Eaglestaff’s performance:
- Field Goals: 15-for-28
- 3-Point Range: 8-for-18
- Free Throws: 13-of-17
- Second Half Points: 28
His 50-point game was the fourth in North Dakota history, with two of the others belonging to NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson (Feb. 24, 1967, 50; March 11, 1967, 52).
On the other side of the court, the third-seeded Jackrabbits (20-12) were led by Oscar Cluff with 27 points and 17 rebounds. Kalen Garry added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Matthew Mors contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.
With this victory, No. 6 seed North Dakota (12-20) advances to play second-seeded St. Thomas-Minnesota in Saturday’s semifinals. The Tommies are in Year 4 of a four-year transition to Division I that renders them ineligible for the NCAA tournament. If St. Thomas wins the Summit crown, the conference’s automatic NCAA tournament bid will be awarded to regular-season champion Omaha, even if the Mavericks lose in Saturday’s semifinal against South Dakota.
As the dust settles on this historic night, one thing is clear: Treysen Eaglestaff has cemented his place in college basketball lore. His performance not only lifted his team to victory but also captivated fans and analysts alike, reminding us all of the magic that can happen on the hardwood.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
