MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois scored 19 points off turnovers and held on for a 55-51 win over North Dakota State in the Summit League men's basketball opener for both teams Thursday, Dec. 1, at Western Hall.

Lawrence Alexander had 16 points and four assists, and Taylor Braun added 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for North Dakota State (6-1).  NDSU's 20 turnovers were the most by the Bison since last November in a win over UC Santa Barbara.

NDSU trailed by as many as 12 points with 8:27 left in the game, but the Bison responded with a 15-2 run to take their only lead of the night on a Mike Felt 3-pointer that made it 51-50 with 1:44 to play.

Western Illinois went back ahead on the next possession with a jump shot from seldom-used Don McAvoy, and the Bison followed with a missed 3-pointer, offensive foul and turnover while the Fighting Leathernecks went 3-for-6 at the foul line down the stretch.

NDSU, which entered as the highest scoring team in The Summit League, was held to its lowest scoring output since a 60-46 loss at IUPUI in January 2008.

NDSU's league-leading defense held Western Illinois to the fewest points by a Bison opponent since the 81-55 win over North Dakota last year.

Alexander had 10 of his 16 points in the first half, and accounted for NDSU's first field goal at the 12-minute mark.  The Bison shot just 30 percent in the period but only trailed 26-20 at halftime.

TrayVonn Wright grabbed a team-high nine rebounds for North Dakota State, which had a 35-34 edge in total rebounds.

Obi Emegano had 15 points and Terell Parks added 14 points and 15 rebounds for Western Illinois (3-2), which has won three straight.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play IUPUI at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 3, at The Jungle in Indianapolis.  The Jaguars are 2-6 overall and 0-1 in the league after a 97-93 overtime loss to South Dakota State on Thursday.