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North Dakota State Basketball Gears Up for Big Sky-Summit Challenge with Impressive Momentum
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The North Dakota State men’s basketball team (5-3) enters a crucial stretch of games this week as they participate in the big Sky-Summit Challenge, facing Montana on Wednesday, December 3, and hosting Northern Arizona on Saturday, December 6. The Bison are demonstrating important improvement on both ends of the court, highlighted by a recent defensive performance and notable individual contributions.
Did you know? – NDSU held Jacksonville state to 43 points on Nov. 26, the lowest allowed against a Division I opponent in nearly 11 years. The Bison won 71-42 against North Dakota in December 2014.
Bison Face Familiar Foes in Challenge
NDSU will first travel to Missoula to take on Montana at 8 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. MT on Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Saturday’s contest against Northern Arizona is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be available locally on WDAY xtra and via streaming on the Summit League Network. Fans can also tune in on the radio,with Sam Neidermann providing play-by-play coverage on 107.9 The Fox and Bison 1660, and streaming options available through the NDSU Athletics app and GoBison.com/AllAccess.
Pro tip: – Tune into the radio for play-by-play coverage of the games. Sam Neidermann will be on 107.9 The Fox and bison 1660. Streaming options are also available through the NDSU Athletics app.
Series History: A Look Back
The upcoming matchup against Montana marks the 14th all-time meeting between the two programs. Currently,the Montana Griz hold a 9-4 advantage in the series. last season saw a split between the teams, with NDSU securing a 78-69 victory in Missoula on november 16, 2023, while Montana responded with a 96-86 win in Fargo on January 3, 2024. Against Northern Arizona, the Bison boast a perfect 3-0 record in their three previous encounters, with wins recorded in both Flagstaff and Fargo in 2008-09, and a 70-58 victory in San Francisco on November 13, 2011.
Did you know? – NDSU has a 3-0 record against Northern Arizona. the Bison split with Montana last season, winning in Missoula and losing in Fargo.
Defensive Prowess and National Rankings
A key factor in NDSU’s recent success has been their defensive intensity. On November 26, the Bison limited Jacksonville State to just 43 points, marking the lowest point total allowed against a Division I opponent in nearly 11 years.The last time NDSU held a Division I team to fewer points was on December 13, 2014, with a dominant 71-42 win over North Dakota. That 2014-15 season saw the Bison hold five different opponents under 50 points, ultimately leading to both the Summit League regular season and tournament titles.
Beyond individual game performances, the Bison are currently ranked No. 7 nationally in turnover margin, averaging +6.6 turnovers per game. They have also dramatically improved their steal rate, climbing from a national ranking of 352nd last season to 30th this year, already accumulating 67% of last season’s total steals through just eight games.
Did you know? – NDSU is ranked no. 7 nationally in turnover margin. the Bison have improved their steal rate, climbing to 30th this year.
Individual Stars Emerging
Several Bison players are showcasing impressive individual performances. Damari Wheeler-Thomas is experiencing a
