Griesel’s Game-Winner Lifts Bison over Omaha, 71-69

Friday, January 8

Fargo, N.D.

7:30 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

5-6,3-0Summit League

Omaha

2-11,0-3Summit League

Team	1	2	F
Omaha	26	43	69
North Dakota St.	36	35	71

Photo by: Ryan Perreault

Griesel’s Game-Winner Lifts Bison over Omaha, 71-69

1/8/2021 10:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

PDF Box Score

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State junior Sam Griesel drained a contested, fadeaway baseline jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining to lift the Bison men's basketball team to a 71-69 victory over Omaha on Friday night inside the Scheels Center.

NDSU improved to 3-0 in The Summit League with the victory. It was NDSU's home opener for the 2020-21 season after the Bison played the first 10 games of the season on the road.

Griesel finished with 19 points after hitting the game-winner. NDSU senior Rocky Kreuser recorded his third career double-double with 19 points and a career-best 12 rebounds.

Wanjang Tut scored a career-high 31 points on 14-of-19 shooting for Omaha.

The Bison led 36-26 at halftime, but Omaha cut the margin to three at 58-55 with six minutes remaining. NDSU strung together a 9-0 run to go ahead 67-55 with 1:50 left before the Mavericks closed with a furious rally.

A 14-2 run by Omaha in the final two minutes left the score knotted at 69-69 with 11.7 seconds remaining when NDSU called a timeout. Griesel dribbled down the right side, turned his back, and spun into the fadeaway jumper for the game-winner.

Tyree Eady added 11 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Bison. Sophomore Maleeck Harden-Hayes and freshman Grant Nelson both chipped in eight points.

The Bison shot 50 percent (28-of-56) for the game, and Omaha made 48 percent (29-of-61).

The Bison and Mavericks will play again on Saturday night in Fargo, with tip scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at 5 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on MidcoSN and ESPN+. Doubleheader tickets are available at GoBison.com/tickets.