NDSU Basketball Comes Up Short at Saint Mary’s, 78-65

Thursday, November 14

Moraga, Calif.

10:30 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

1-1

Saint Mary's (Calif.)

3-0

Team	1	2	F
North Dakota State	27	38	65
Saint Mary's (CA)	34	44	78

Photo by: Tod Fierner

NDSU Basketball Comes Up Short at Saint Mary’s, 78-65

11/15/2013 1:10:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

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MORAGA, Calif. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team trimmed an 11-point deficit to two points with less than 10 minutes to play, but Saint Mary's ultimately held on for a 78-65 victory over the Bison in McKeon Pavilion on Thursday night.

NDSU senior forward Marshall Bjorklund led all players with 23 points on a 10-for-14 shooting performance. Senior Taylor Braun scored 14 points, and junior Lawrence Alexander chipped in 12.

Saint Mary's (3-0) won for the 35th time in its last 37 home games and extended its home non-conference winning streak to 20 games. The Gaels out-rebounded the Bison by a 40-22 margin.

NDSU (1-1) shot 26-for-58 (44.8 percent) for the game and made just 1-of-13 attempts from beyond the arc. Saint Mary's shot 53 percent from the floor and 6-for-13 (46.2 percent) from three-point range.

Brad Waldow tallied 18 points to lead the Saint Mary's offensive effort.

NDSU fell behind 30-19 with 3:33 to play in the first half, but trimmed the deficit to seven at 34-27 when Alexander made an 18-foot, fadeaway jumper at the halftime buzzer.

The Bison pulled within two at 51-49 with 9:42 to play after Alexander made back-to-back acrobatic baskets, but Waldow responded with a jumper for the Gaels, and NDSU was never within four points again. Saint Mary's made seven free throws in the final minute to pull away for the 78-65 victory.

NDSU will return home to host Southern Miss on Monday, Nov. 18, in the Bison Sports Arena. The first 500 NDSU students in attendance will receive a free Bison t-shirt, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free schedule magnet.