Complete NDSU Basketball Game Notes (PDF)
Feb. 5 vs. Omaha: Live Video  |  Free Audio  |  Live Stats
Feb. 7 vs. South Dakota: Live Video  |  Free Audio  |  Live Stats

This Week's Games: The NDSU men's basketball team returns to Fargo with hopes of extending its 21-game home winning streak this week. The Bison host Omaha on Thursday, Feb. 5, and South Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Scheels Arena. Entering the weekend, NDSU stands one-half game behind South Dakota State for first place in the Summit League standings.
            Feb. 5        vs. Omaha                7 p.m.
            Feb. 7        vs. South Dakota     2 p.m.
 
            Viewing Options: Both games will be televised statewide on MeTV, with Brian Shawn and former Bison Juno Pintar calling the action. A separate live video stream will be available for purchase at GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
            Radio: Scott Miller and Jeremy Jorgenson will call the games on KFGO-AM 790 of Fargo. Coverage includes 20-minute pregame and postgame shows. Free audio streaming will be available at GoBison.com/allaccess.
 
            About Omaha: The Mavericks are 8-13 overall and 2-7 in The Summit League entering Thursday's game. Omaha is 2-9 in road games this season, with one of those victories coming at South Dakota (86-77 on Jan. 2).
            Omaha was picked to finish sixth in the Summit League preseason poll, one spot behind NDSU. The Mavericks went 17-15 overall last season and 5-9 in league play for sixth place.
            Senior guard CJ Carter leads the team with 17.2 points per game, with junior guards Marcus Tyus (12.4 ppg) and Devin Patterson (12.2 ppg) close behind. According to KenPom.com, Omaha plays at one of the fastest tempos in all of Division I, averaging 60 shots per game.
 
            The Series with Omaha: Thursday will be the 73rd meeting between North Dakota State and Omaha dating back to 1935-36. NDSU has a 44-28 lead in the series, including a sweep of both games last season and a 75-72 victory in Omaha on Jan. 8 this year. NDSU is 6-0 against the Mavericks in Division I meetings.
 
            About South Dakota: The Coyotes are 10-13 overall and 4-5 in The Summit League entering Saturday's game. South Dakota is 6-9 away from home this season.
            Senior guard Tyler Larson leads the Coyotes with 14.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Senior guard Brandon Bos is averaging 14.3 points per contest for USD. Junior Casey Kasperbauer is shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range. As a team, the Coyotes rank 40th in the country in free throw percentage at 73.3 percent.
            South Dakota was picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Summit League in this year's preseason poll. The Coyotes went 12-18 overall and 6-8 in league play last season.
 
            The Series with South Dakota: Saturday will be the 170th meeting between North Dakota State and South Dakota dating back to 1922-23. The Bison hold a 92-77 lead in the series. NDSU had won six straight before a 71-67 loss in Vermillion on Jan. 14 this season. The Bison are now 6-1 against the Coyotes as Division I opponents.
            South Dakota has not won in Fargo since Feb. 8, 2002, in North Central Conference play.
 
            Home Court: The Bison have won 21 straight home games, which is the 7th-longest active home winning streak in the nation. NDSU is 34-2 at home since the start of the 2012-13 season, with the only two losses being to Southern Miss (70-69) on Nov. 18, 2013, and Western Illinois (49-36) on Feb. 14, 2013.
 
            Wins Record: Entering Thursday's game vs. Omaha, Lawrence Alexander is tied for the most wins ever by a Bison basketball player. Alexander has 82 wins in his career, tying the all-time record held by Mike Felt (2009-14).
 
            1,500 Point Club: With 21 points in a victory over Denver on Jan. 29, Lawrence Alexander became the 11th player in NDSU history to surpass 1,500 points for his career. Alexander joined Ben Woodside (2,315), Brett Winkelman (1,962), Taylor Braun (1,651) and Mike Nelson (1,562) as the only five to achieve the feat during NDSU's Division I era.
           
            Moving Up: Alexander needs 13 points to move into 10th place all-time at NDSU. He needs 26 points to get to ninth in NDSU history.
 
            Big Week: Kory Brown averaged 14 points, 10.5 rebounds & 3.5 assists in 39 minutes per game last week as the Bison defeated Denver at home and Western Illinois on the road.
           
            Taking Care: The Bison are averaging 9.8 turnovers per game this season – an average which ranks them sixth-best in the nation. NDSU is also ranked 18th in Division I for fewest fouls committed per game at 15.4.
 
            Three-Point Numbers: Senior guard Lawrence Alexander has made 65 three-pointers this season. Only 20 players in the country have made more. The NDSU single-season record for three-pointers is 85 by Ross Manson in the 1993-94 season.
 
            Best Around: Alexander leads The Summit League in points per game (18.0), three-pointers made (65) and minutes per game (38.2).
 
            L.A. in January: In the month of January, Lawrence Alexander averaged 20.4 points, made 24 three-pointers (41%), and 33-of-36 free throws (92%) in eight games. The Bison went 6-2 as he averaged 39.9 minutes per contest.
 
            Top Freshman: A.J. Jacobson leads all Summit League freshmen in scoring this season with 10.5 points per game.
 
            Most Minutes: Alexander has passed Ben Woodside (2005-09) for the NDSU record for minutes played in a career. Woodside played 4,117 minutes in 118 games. Alexander has totaled 4,201 minutes in 120 games.
 
            High Percentage: Dexter Werner (54.1%) ranks sixth in The Summit League for field goal percentage in league games.
 
            The Mayor: Fargo native A.J. Jacobson is shooting 45 percent (18-of-40) from three-point range in league play.
 
            Wing Man: Sophomore guard Carlin Dupree ranks sixth in The Summit League with 3.0 assists per contest.
 
            Three-Year Run: The Bison are on the verge of recording the winningest three-year run in school history. NDSU is 65-24 since the start of the 2012-13 season, including a mark of 31-8 in league play.
            No. of wins     Years  
            67                    2011-14
            65                    2012-15
            64                    1994-97
            64                    1923-26
 
            Early Leads: The Bison opened up early double-digit leads in each of their first three Summit League home games.
            Jan. 2            Oral Roberts                   Bison led 21-6 less than 10 minutes in
            Jan. 4            South Dakota State        Bison led 31-10 just over 14 minutes in
            Jan. 16          Western Illinois              Bison led 24-11 less than 13 minutes in
 
            On the Glass: The Bison posted a 35-19 rebounding advantage in their win over Denver on Jan. 29, including a 24-9 margin after halftime. Kory Brown finished with a career-high 13 boards.
 
            Win at IUPUI: NDSU exploded for 16 points in overtime to pull out a 69-61 victory on the road at IUPUI on Jan. 22.  The Jaguars and Bison battled through 15 lead changes and 12 ties in the contest. Neither team led by more than four points over the first 40 minutes. Lawrence Alexander recorded his eighth game of 20-plus points this season, tallying 24 to lead all players.
 
            Lawrence Alexander's National Rankings (as of Feb. 4)
            5th in minutes per game (38.2)
            21st in 3-pointers made (65)
            22nd in 3-pointers made per game (2.95)
            35th in 3-point field goal percent (42.2%)
            46th in total points (397)
            48th in points per game (18.0)
            60th in free throw percentage (84.7%)
 
            Senior Steps Up: Alexander has eight games this season with four or more three-pointers. He only had three such games over his first three seasons combined.