Michigan State Ends NDSU’s Historic Season in NCAA Tournament, 92-67

As March is upon us, the madness is on. Luckily for the North Dakota State men’s team, they won the Summit League to punch their ticket to the big dance. On Selection Sunday, they finally got their game assignment against the Michigan State Spartans out of East Lansing in Buffalo, NY.

​The Spartans are led by the great Tom Izzo, who has held the helm for 31 years. He has compiled a 762-309 record, including 11 regular season Big10 titles and a lone national championship in 2000.

​They are led by sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr and senior Jaxson Kohler, who have led their team to a 25-7 record, including huge wins against Kentucky, Arkansas, UNC, Illinois and Purdue.

​From the start, NDSU put on an early fight in a crowd of 17,182 people. That number is the largest crowd they have played in front of since the Minnesota exhibition game with 7,000+ in William’s arena.

​NDSU got the scoring started with a layup from Treyson Anderson and had an early 8-5 lead against the Spartans. With the first media timeout, NDSU stayed in the lead, 8-7, after MSU’s Carson Cooper slammed it down.

​But at the second media timeout, that’s when it would go south for the Bison. Jaxson Kohler would hit a three to push a Michigan State lead to double digits, 21-10.

​With under eight minutes to go in the first half, Andy Stefonowicz drove in the lane and hit a layup to only be down eight, 25-18. But that would be the last time NDSU would get its lead to single digits.

​Coen Carr came and slammed it down with absolute authority and 43 seconds, growing the Spartans’ lead to 20, 45-25. NDSU went into the halftime break with shooting splits of 33% from the field and a low 13% from three, going 2/15. At this point, it wasn’t just shooting woes; it was a factor of everything.

​MSU almost pushed their lead to 30 in the first 4 minutes of the second half after freshman Jordan Scott hit a three-pointer, 56-29. NDSU struggled with the physicality of the Spartans and struggled with the playmaking abilities of Jeremiah Fears Jr.

​A pair of free throws from Damari Wheeler-Thomas cut MSU’s lead to 16, but the game was close to over with under four minutes left, 77-61.

​Ultimately, NDSU’s season came to an end with a historic 27-8 record and a round of 64 exit against Michigan State, 92-67. The top performers were Wheeler-Thomas with 16 points and Trevian Carson with 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

​strong

​It was an honor to be the beat writer for this year’s NDSU men’s team. They answered every question the media and fans presented this year. Two final questions are posed to close us out:

“What did the transfers bring in this year?”

Tay Smith brought shooting, Strickland brought athleticism and rebounding, and first-team, all Summit League, Trevian Carson, proved to be the most impactful player for the Bison team this year.

“How did shooting efficiency change from the out-of-conference schedule to Summit League Play?”

​They shot 36% from three overall, but in conference play, they shot close to 40%. This may be a small improvement, but over the season, it sure adds up.

​As for the offseason, it poses questions like who will leave? Who stays? Who does Coach Richman bring in? But for now, the whole season was a success, and who cannot wait for next year?