GAME NOTES: The University of Utah Thanksgiving Tournament continues on Wednesday night at the Jon M. Huntsman Center with a matchup between the Alabama State Hornets and North Dakota.

This round-robin tournament will have Texas-Pan American, Utah, North Dakota and Alabama State all play one another on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

It's been 10 days since Alabama State has played last when it suffered a 97-79 loss at Arkansas on Nov. 16. The Hornets are 1-1 on the season, having defeated Auburn-Montgomery in their opener (105-64).

North Dakota has started the season slowly with just one win in its first three contests, as it defeated NAIA program Mayville State at home on Nov. 18, 76-39. It most recently played a road contest with South Dakota State and suffered a heartbreaking 74-72 setback.

This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs.

The fast-paced Hornets generated plenty of offenses in their most recent game, as they shot 44.3 percent form the field (including 9-of-18 from 3-point range), but they also committed an unseemly 23 turnovers and allowed Arkansas shoot greater than 56 percent from the floor en route to the 18-point loss. DeMarcus Robinson netted 21 points in the setback, shooting 5-of-7 from 3- point range in the process. Bobby Brown and Maurice Strong rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 and 11 points, respectively.

With a smaller sample size than most teams, Alabama State scores an outstanding 92.0 ppg this season but allows 80.5 ppg on the other end. Robinson's latest performance allowed him to take over the team lead in scoring with 22.0 ppg, and he's drained five 3-pointers in both games. Brown is a mainstay in the paint with 14.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg, while Strong brings 11.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg to the table.

North Dakota appeared to be in great shape leading by 10 with under five minutes to play, but it allowed SDSU to storm back. With the game tied with five seconds to go, SDSU converted a three-point play to put the game away. UND shot an impressive 54 percent from the field but only made two 3-pointers, and it was plagued by a poor showing at the free-throw line (16-of-29). Jaron Nash tallied 18 points and eight rebounds, but he was just 3-of-9 at the stripe. Estan Tyler netted 17 points off the bench and Chad Calcaterra added 13 points to the losing effort.

The collapse was uncharacteristic of UND, which plays stellar defense this season in allowing just 59.0 ppg. Its offensive production, on the other hand, has been underwhelming (66.7 ppg). Jaron Nash tallies 15.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg, both team highs. Quinton Hooker brings 10.3 ppg to the table but shoots just 37 percent from the field.

North Dakota has been shaky to start the season, but it is the more talented team in this matchup and should have no problem scoring against Alabama State's leaky defense.