Devils Lake's Wylee Delorme finding a role with UND

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Dec. 31—GRAND FORKS — UND guard and Devils Lake native Wylee Delorme didn't play in the team's first 13 games of the season.

Even Dec. 18, in a home game against Winthrop, Delorme didn't find out until the last minute he was going to play this year after transferring from NCAA Division II University of Mary.

"I didn't know I was going to play against Winthrop until after the shoot-around and coach pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to play the rest of the season," Delorme said.

Less than 30 seconds into his Division I career, Delorme hit a 3-pointer.

"It's amazing, taking a step from DII," Delorme said. "The game's a lot faster, and I've got to do a lot more things especially in the defensive system."

Delorme is beginning to carve out a bench role for the Fighting Hawks, who host Oral Roberts at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Summit League opener at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Delorme has played against Winthrop, Nebraska and Dakota State. He's had at least 10 minutes of playing time in each game and is 2-for-6 from 3-point range.

"(Pulling his redshirt) was something he kind of brought to us maybe a week or two before that," UND coach Paul Sather said. "I just think we're searching. I think there's always searching going on right now. I don't think we feel like we've really settled into who that top eight, nine, even 10 guys are.

"I think we feel like we need everybody to be ready when your number is called. There's no promises made to anybody. You've got an opportunity to play and to prove yourself every day in practice, then when you get your opportunity, go make a play."

Delorme's debut was a mixed bag. He fouled out in just 10 minutes of play.

"I think what you see is great energy," Sather said. "He plays really hard. I think a lot of it is kind of getting caught up and learning from a defensive standpoint. Now you're going against different competition and different players that you're not used to guarding every day."

At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Delorme gives the Hawks some defensive versatility.

"No. 1, I like his want-to ... it's pretty high," Sather said. "He really works at it. He's in the gym. He gets shots up. I think he brings size and athleticism to the wing spot. When you're young, sometimes you kind of need to let it fly. Sometimes you miss a couple, and you start over-thinking it. He's just got to settle in. But with his daily approach, he's got a really good attitude. He's an awesome kid. He'll keep getting those opportunities, and then we'll see where it grows from that."

The Hawks enter Summit play 6-10, while ORU enters at 5-10. The Golden Eagles are 0-6 on the road this season, losing by an average of 16.3 points per game.

ORU is coached by first-year head coach Kory Barnett. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 69-57 loss to UT Arlington on Dec. 22. ORU is led by Youngstown State transfer Ty Harper, who's averaging 16.9 points per game.

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