The Bison men’s basketball team are on a roll winning five of the last six including a 3-0 start in the Summit League and a revenge win over in state rival North Dakota, dating back to December 14th and going through to January 5th.
In the first game versus UC Davis, the Bison trailed 58-48 with 7:57 in the second half before going on a 14-2 run to take the lead 62-60 with 4:33 left to play. Freshman Tyson Ward hit two three-pointers and Dexter Werner made a critical three-point play during the comeback.
Junior Paul Miller scored 17 points to lead North Dakota State, while connecting for three three-pointers. Senior Carlin Dupree started with 11 first-half points and finished with 15 in the game.
The Bison would hold off and win the game 74-70.
NDSU then traveled to Grand Forks in a rematch against UND.
The Bison would get their revenge in an 87-70 victory while leading 29 out of the game’s 40 minutes. NDSU has now won three out of the last four versus their in state rival.
Miller was the high man with 22 points and eight boards, while A.J. Jacobson matched his season-high of 18 points and going 9-of-10 from the foul line.
NDSU shot 53 percent in the game and made 9-of-20 from the three-point line. Seven Bison players made at least one three. Both Dupree and Khy Kabellis recorded at least 10 points, four boards, and four assists.
NDSU would go on to lose their only game of the semester break to Arkansas with the final score of 55-71. Arkansas went on a 16-0 run to take control of the game.
The game was tied 29-29 with 17:45 left before the Razorbacks went on their 16-0 run over the next five minutes. Back-to-back threes from Dusty Hannahs and Daryl Macon where key in the run for Arkansas.
Miller scored a game high 17 points and Werner grabbed a game high of 12 rebounds.
The Bison would go on to open up the Summit League play with a game against the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State.
NDSU second half was key for their win. After trailing by 16 points with less than 15 minutes left in the half, the Bison would come back and win 80-69, while outscoring SDSU 58-32 in the half. The Bison held the Jackrabbits without a field goal in nearly ten minutes.
Miller scored a 21 points in 40 minutes, was the first Bison to play all 40 minutes this season. Miller tied a career-high with 10 rebounds and a new career high of six assists. Werner grabbed 14 boards, second career best.
The Bison would continue strong second half performance with a 53-42 second against Omaha and finished the game 82-70.
Miller would score yet another game-high 22 points. Werner would contribute 17 points and 13 rebounds, 11 coming in the second half. Dupree scored a season-high 18 points.
The Bison shot 56 percent in the second half and went 26-of-28 from the line during the game.
Another 50 plus point second half game helped the Bison once more. With the Bison up 42-41 going into the half, they did not slow up coming back out for the second half. NDSU would outscore IUPUI 51-48 in the half to win the game 93-89 and go to a record of 11-5 (3-0 Summit League).
The Bison shot 52 percent for the game, 50 percent beyond the three-point line, and 29-of-39 at the free throw line.
Kabellis matched a career high of 21 points, going 8-of-10. Jacobson scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed seven boards. Miller drained four three-pointers and ended with 18 points.
The Bison are back in action on the road against South Dakota on January 11 and Denver on January 14.