MANKATO, Minn.--North Dakota State's defense was the dominate factor as the Bison posted a 20-9 North Central Conference victory over Minnesota State-Mankato here Saturday afternoon.

The Bison defense came up with four MSUM turnovers, setting up three NDSU scores, sacked the quarterback four times, and allowed the Mavericks just five net yards rushing in running their season chart to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the NCC.

In addition, the Bison defense stretched its string of quarters without allowing a touchdown to 10-plus. MSUM's only touchdown of the game was the result of the Bison offense when Maverick defensive back Jordan Malone picked off Bison quarterback Tony Stauss and returned it 64 yards for a second quarter touchdown.

The Bison defense has not allowed a TD since the second quarter of the loss to Cal-Davis in mid-September. UCD scored two second half field goals, South Dakota State was shutout, and the MSUM offense put up a solitary field goal over the last 150-plus minutes.

NDSU marched 11 plays and 80 yards late in the first quarter and early in the second quarter to score on a 20-yard burst up the middle by Rod Malone on a fourth-and-inches for a 7-0 lead.

A Jayd Kittelson fumble recovery three plays later at the MSUM 23 set up a Cory Vartanian field goal of 40 yards and NDSU had a 10-0 lead.

The Bison capped a 17-point second quarter explosion when Jared Essler intercepted a pass near mid-field to set up another score. Allen Burrell took it in on a wide receiver reverse on a first and goal from the eight with 4:49 left in the quarter.

Junior defensive end Travis Ware intercepted a deflected pass in the middle of the fourth quarter to give the Bison some cushion after MSUM closed the gap to 17-9 earlier in the quarter on a 29-yard field goal. The Bison were unable to move the ball and settled for a 33-yard Vartanian field goal into a stiff wind.

Ware was a terror for the Bison. The junior transfer recorded three quarterback sacks, added another stop for a loss, charted eight total tackles, broke up one pass, and had the interception.

Senior halfback Rod Malone and freshman halfback Kyle Steffes gave the Bison a solid 1-2 punch on the ground. Malone carried the ball 22 times for 112 yards while Steffes picked up 70 yards on 14 carries. Quarterback Stauss was not as sharp as the first four games, completing 14 of 29 passes for 129 yards, far below his 69 percent completion average.

NDSU outgained the Mavericks 317 yards to 258, committed just one turnover to four MSUM TOs, and blocked a Mankato field goal.

NDSU faces Nebraska-Omaha (5-1, 2-0 NCC) next Saturday afternoon at the Fargodome. MSUM dropped to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the league.