After going 7-2-1 in a 10-game stretch to vault into a first-place tie atop the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, it all came apart in 48 hours against Western Michigan. UND lost the series opener in overtime Friday, then got steamrolled 5-1 by the Broncos in the series finale Saturday in Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The North Dakota Hockey team received a point in the NCHC standings by taking the fourth-ranked Western Michigan Broncos to overtime, but the Broncos would get the last laugh, scoring in overtime to win the series opener.

Just 24 seconds into the advantage, senior forward Jackson Kunz took an interference penalty. It ended UND's power play and gave the Broncos a 22-second power play to start overtime. That's all Western Michigan needed against UND's reeling penalty kill.

There's a three-way tie between Western Michigan, UND and Arizona State atop the standings, but the Broncos have played two fewer games. The standings are tight from top to bottom. Only six points separate first and eighth.

No. 14/16 North Dakota dropped a 5-1 decision to No. 4/5 Western Michigan on Saturday night from a sold-out Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. UND (12-10-1, 7-5-0 NCHC) could not overcome a 3-0 deficit,