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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The North Dakota State University men's basketball team dropped a road game at No. 2-ranked Ohio State University as part of the BlackRock Gotham Classic on Saturday, Dec. 14, falling 79-62. Senior Taylor Braun led the Bison with 21 points.
                          
Ohio State (10-0) was led by 18 points each from LaQuinton Ross and Lenzelle Smith, Jr. The Buckeyes shot 27-for-51 (52.9 percent).
 
The 15,272 fans inside Value City Arena made it the seventh-largest crowd in history for an NDSU basketball game.
 
The Bison managed 62 points and committed just seven turnovers against one of the nation's top defensive teams. Ohio State had been allowing an average of 53 points per contest entering the game.

"They did a good job with their scouting report. They knew a lot of our plays," Braun said. "I guess that is encouraging because a lot of the time you go into these big games and they're not even preparing for you. It just says we are a good mid-major team. I guess even losing by 17, that is a positive you take from it – that we were respected by the No. 2 team in the country."
 
NDSU (7-4) was within five points at 31-26 following a Braun jumper with 2:55 to play in the first half. The Buckeyes closed the half on a 10-2 run to lead 41-28 at the break.
 
Ohio State stretched its lead to 19 points at 53-34 just under five minutes into the second half, but NDSU was able to trim the margin to 14 at 55-41 with 10:50 to play. The Buckeyes responded with a 17-4 run, taking a 72-45 lead.
 
Bison senior forward Marshall Bjorklund scored 12 points, and junior Lawrence Alexander chipped in 10.
 
The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for NDSU. The Bison are now 2-5 against ranked opponents in the school's Division I era, with Ohio State being the second-highest ranked opponent in NDSU history.
 
NDSU will host Delaware on Monday, Dec. 16, in its final game of the BlackRock Gotham Classic. Game time in the Bison Sports Arena is set for 7 p.m.