BROOKINGS, S.D. — North Dakota State used a pivotal late first-half run and steady free-throw shooting down the stretch to earn a 74-66 Summit League road victory over South Dakota State on Wednesday night inside First Bank & Trust Arena.
The Bison improved to 22-6 overall and 12-1 in Summit League play, remaining in first place while matching a school record with their 10th road win of the season. SDSU fell to 12-16 overall and 5-8 in league action.
The two rivals were tightly contested throughout the opening half. The score was tied 25-25 with 7:38 remaining before the Jackrabbits made their strongest push of the night. Matthew Mors and Damon Wilkinson combined for seven straight points to give SDSU a 32-25 lead.
North Dakota State answered with the game’s decisive momentum shift. Noah Feddersen sparked a 12-2 Bison run by scoring 10 consecutive points, flipping a seven-point deficit into a 37-34 NDSU lead at the break. Damari Wheeler-Thomas added a late layup to cap the surge.
South Dakota State stayed within striking distance throughout the second half, trimming the deficit to a single point on three occasions. Wilkinson’s hook shot made it 52-51 with just over nine minutes to play, but the Jackrabbits couldn’t capitalize on a chance to take the lead. NDSU responded with six straight points and kept the margin at more than one possession the rest of the way.
The Bison sealed the win at the free-throw line, finishing 18-of-26 overall and going 13-for-20 in the final 20 minutes. SDSU was 8-of-14 at the stripe, and NDSU’s 12 additional free-throw attempts proved pivotal.
Wheeler-Thomas led all scorers with 23 points, while Feddersen added 19 — including 17 in the first half. Trevian Carson recorded a game-high 12 rebounds, and Andy Stefonowicz contributed four steals and four assists. NDSU shot 48.1 percent from the field and committed just five turnovers.
Wilkinson and Mors paced the Jackrabbits with 18 points apiece. Wilkinson also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, and Kalen Garry dished out six assists. SDSU outrebounded NDSU 35-33, but shot 44 percent from the floor and 57 percent at the free-throw line.
The Bison have now won three straight games in Brookings for the first time since 2010. North Dakota State returns home Saturday to host Kansas City at 1 p.m., while South Dakota State closes its home slate Saturday against North Dakota with Senior Day recognition scheduled prior to tipoff.