North Dakota State Holds Off South Dakota in 89-84 Thriller

North Dakota State's high-powered offense proved too much for South Dakota to handle, as the Bison escaped the Sanford Coyote Sports Center with an 89-84 victory. The win marked a strong performance by North Dakota State, who were predicted to win by 7.8 points by CHD Scout, and ultimately fell just shy of that margin. Led by Noah Feddersen's impressive 20 points and 9 rebounds, the Bison built a strong first-half lead and held off a late South Dakota surge.

The first half belonged to North Dakota State, who stormed out to a 39-25 lead behind Feddersen's 12 points. The Bison's offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Andy Stefonowicz and Markhi Strickland chipping in with 8 and 7 points, respectively. South Dakota, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm, with Jordan Crawford's 10 points providing a lone bright spot. Despite trailing by 14 at the break, the Coyotes refused to back down, and a strong second-half effort brought them within striking distance.

Crawford, who finished with a game-high 33 points, sparked a South Dakota run that saw the Coyotes close the gap to just 5 points with under 5 minutes to play. Uzziah Buntyn and Cameron Fens also made significant contributions, scoring 25 and 16 points, respectively. However, North Dakota State's balanced attack and stout defense ultimately proved too much for the Coyotes to overcome. Stefonowicz, who notched 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists, played a crucial role in the Bison's victory, while Strickland added 15 points of his own.

The win marked a significant Quadrant 4 victory for North Dakota State, who improved to 19-5 on the season. For South Dakota, the loss represented a missed opportunity to secure a Quadrant 3 win, and the Coyotes fell to 12-12. Despite the defeat, South Dakota's performance was encouraging, and the team want to build on the momentum generated by Crawford's outstanding effort.

In terms of tournament implications, North Dakota State's victory solidified its position as a strong mid-major contender. The Bison's NET ranking of 116 will likely receive a boost, and the team want to continue its winning ways in the coming weeks. For South Dakota, the loss was a setback, but the Coyotes' NET ranking of 284 still leaves room for improvement. With several games remaining on the schedule, South Dakota will aim to string together a series of wins and bolster its tournament resume.

The outcome of this game will have real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. North Dakota State's win adds another quality victory to its resume, while South Dakota's loss makes its path to the tournament more challenging. As the season enters its final stretch, both teams will be focused on securing key wins and positioning themselves for a strong postseason run.