BISMARCK, N.D.- A district judge has granted a preliminary injunction to stop the NCAA from banning the University of North Dakota from hosting a postseason game because of its “Fighting Sioux” nickname, state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said.

The decision came hours before the school learned it will host a playoff football game in less than a week.

UND Athletic Director Tom Buning said Sunday that judge Lawrence Jahnke sent an e-mail late Saturday that stated his decision. Buning said he did not expect the formal order to be released until Monday.

UND is among a handful of schools with American Indian nicknames and logos that the NCAA considers hostile and abusive. These schools are barred from holding postseason tournaments, or from using their nicknames during road playoff games.

Stenehjem, in asking for the injunction, said the ban might cost UND (9-1, 7-1 North Central Conference) home field advantage in this year’s NCAA Division II football playoffs.

Stenehjem asked Jahnke during a court hearing Thursday to stop the NCAA from banning the nickname until a full hearing on the case is held.

Jahnke on Thursday set a tentative trial date in the nickname dispute for April 24. The attorney general’s office is handling the case for UND, which is paying for it with private contributions.