The North Dakota State Men’s Basketball team hosted the Denver Pioneers for a Saturday afternoon in-conference matinee.
Denver would start Saturday’s match up with a 9-0 run, a run that lasted the first four minutes of the game. The Pioneers did everything they could to try and set the tone, but NDSU would ultimately respond.
The Bison would trail for the first 12 minutes of the game. An Isiah Addo-Ankrah made three-pointer for the Pioneers around the 11-minute mark of the half, would give Denver an 18-8 lead. This, however, was the last shot the Pioneers would make for the next five minutes of game time.
During the Denver scoring drought, the Bison would rattle off 19 straight points, completely flipping the script of this game. After this scoring run, NDSU captured a 27-18 lead. The Pioneers did a great job of hanging close, as the first half ended with a score of 38-32. Coming out of the break, NDSU looked to gain some breathing room, but Denver wouldn’t budge. With a couple seconds over the 13-minute mark, Sebastian Atkins pinned a three, which gave the Pioneers their first lead since early in the first half.
Both teams proceeded to match each other’s buckets down the stretch of the final half. With just over three minutes left to play, a DeAndre Craig tipped in shot would tie the game up at 66 a piece. Shortly after, a Nicholas Shogbonyo made jump shot gave Denver the lead once again.
Trailing by two with a minute left, Jacari White caught a pass from Jacksen Moni near the top of the key and cashed a three, one that got mostly everyone in the Scheels Arena on their feet. Just about 15 game time seconds after, Abdulai Fanta Kabba drove into the lane for Denver and put up a lay-up. Kabba missed the lay-up but was fouled on the play by Darik Disette. Kabba missed his first free-throw but nailed the second one to tie the game up at 74-74.
Jacksen Moni was sent to the line with just 30 seconds left and made both of his attempts. All the Bison needed was one stop and they were victorious. Isiah Carr didn’t want to go quietly into the night, however. Carr would go up for a dunk and put it in, deadlocking the two teams at a 76-76 tie, needing one more period to decide this one.
Jacari White got the scoring started in OT, with a made lay-up. Both programs remained very disciplined in this extra period, as not a ton of shots were put through. A made Masen Miller three-pointer gave the Bison a four point lead with just two-and-a-half to go.
The Pioneers would make it a one possession game when DeAndre Craig hit an and-one jumper, making the free throw as well. Denver just needed one more stop on defense to give themselves another chance. Tajavis Miller however, had other plans. Up three, with just 30 seconds remaining, the junior brought the ball into the low post, put an amazing spin on his defender and made the layup, putting the nail in the coffin for Denver.
After an extra period, this game was finished, 89-84 in favor of the Bison.
Jacksen Moni continued his amazing season, finishing with 27 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. Jacari White also had an excellent afternoon, dropping 23 points on 5-9 shooting from the three point line, while grabbing five rebounds of his own. Denver was lead in scoring by Sebastian Atkins. The Freshman had 27 points, shooting 10-21 from the field.
North Dakota State improves to 8-5 in conference play and 19-9 overall. The Bison will be on the road the next time they’re in action, traveling down I-29 to take on rival South Dakota State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19th.
*This article was written by Flag Family Media intern Cayden Lloyd*
