FARGO, N.D. - Junior guard
Paul Djobet turned in one of the best offensive games in the Division I era for Omaha Men's Basketball as he poured in 38 points Saturday afternoon in Fargo, North Dakota.
The Mavericks, however, weren't able to catch Summit League-leading North Dakota State in the second half as the Mavericks dropped a 92-84 decision.
Djobet scored 17 in the first half and added 21 after the break as he spearheaded a comeback from 18 points down.
Djobet, who became eligible after the fall semester, had recorded three straight double-doubles before being held to nine points and nine rebounds in a loss to North Dakota on Thursday. On Saturday, he went 14 of 22 from the field, including six 3-pointers, and made four free throws. He also grabbed six rebounds.
The 38 points tied Devin Patterson for the second-most points in a game by an Omaha player in the Division I era.
Omaha was down 60-42 with 15 minutes to go before Djobet led the charge. When he converted a three-point play with 3:11 left, Omaha was within 80-78.
But Omaha (12-14, 5-6 Summit) never got closer as North Dakota State scored the next two buckets and held on by hitting free throws. The Bison were 20 of 22 from the line for the game.
A first-half run by NDSU had Omaha playing from behind most of the way.
A 3-pointer by
Ja'Sean Glover, who finished with 16 points off the bench, pulled Omaha within 24-23 with less than eight minutes left in the first half. But NDSU then outscored Omaha 10-1 and the Bison took a 46-33 lead to the halftime locker room.
It was 60-42 with 15 minutes remaining when
Grant Stubblefield and Glover hit back-to-back 3-pointers for the Mavs. That was the start of a 3-point flurry for Omaha, which hit nine threes in the second half and was 15 of 31 from the arc for the game.
A Djobet three at the 5:40 mark finally cut the deficit to single-digits, 73-66.
Tony Osburn followed with two more triples. Osburn finished the day with 14 points, including four treys.
Another Djobet trey made it 80-75, then his three-point play got the Mavericks within two before North Dakota State held on.
Stubblefield finished with eight points, all in the second half, and 11 assists as he helped Omaha shoot 52.6% from the field for the game.
Omaha begins a three-game homestand when it faces St. Thomas on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
