FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State center David Erbes scored a team-high 15 points as the Bison snapped a five-game losing streak with a 71-56 men's basketball win over Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday, Jan. 8, before a crowd of 1,241 at the Bison Sports Arena.

Erbes had 11 of his points in the first half as the Bison (5-9) sputtered to a 30-28 halftime lead.   A pair of Erbes foul shots early in the second half gave the Bison their biggest lead at nine points, but Concordia (5-6) whittled it down to three on E.J. Adams' only bucket of the afternoon with 13:46 to play.

NDSU pulled away with a 12-2 run later in the second half.  Andy Kelchen put the Herd ahead 50-43 with a layup at 10:11, Brandon Smith made a foul shot and a layup to give NDSU its first double-digit margin, and the Bison went up by 15 on Phil Hahn's jumper with 6:56 left.

Concordia was no closer than eight points the rest of the way as the Cobbers lost for only the second time in six games.

Smith, making his first collegiate start, scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and was one of four Bison in double figures.  Kelchen recorded his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds (all on the defensive end), and Hahn finished with 10 points, six assists and four rebounds off the bench.

Adam Dobmeier hit three 3-pointers for nine points and Matt Gerber also scored nine points in his third start of the season.

Cobber guard Keith Eckhoff scored a game-high 19 points and made four assists, Soren Nelson added 16 points and six rebounds, and Mark Dixon chipped in 10 points and eight boards off the bench.

The Bison got to the foul line 24 times in the game but made only 14 of the free throws.  NDSU outrebounded Concordia 42-32.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play at UMKC of the Mid-Continent Conference on Monday, Jan. 10.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.