GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) Cortez Seales scored 27 points in his collegiate debut in North Dakota's 99-69 victory over Minnesota-Morris on Friday.
Seales hit 11 of 15 shots in scoring the most points ever for a North Dakota player in a Division I season opener since the program joined the upper echelon in 2008-09.
Newcomers scored 73 of North Dakota's points. Corey Baldwin, a junior college transfer, had 17 and freshman Conner Avants added 12 points. Quinton Hooker also had 12 points, and Carson Shanks and Drick Bernstine scored 10 apiece. Hooker and Shanks are returning starters.
North Dakota shot 54.9 percent, though only 4 of 17 from 3-point range, and had a 52-37 rebounding edge over the Division III Cougars.
North Dakota led 45-24 at halftime. Its largest lead was 39 points, 92-53, with 4:25 to go.
Noah Grove led Minnesota-Morris with 12 points.
