Complete NDSU Game Notes
 
The Games: The North Dakota State men's basketball team returns home to host Oral Roberts (15-4 overall, 6-0 Summit) and Kansas City (7-12 overall, 3-3 Summit) this week for a pair of Summit League games. The Bison have won five straight entering the week.
            Jan. 19           vs. Oral Roberts          7 p.m. CT           ESPN+, WDAY Xtra
            Jan. 21           vs. Kansas City             1 p.m. CT           ESPN+, WDAY Xtra
 
Where to Watch: Both games will be broadcast by WDAY Xtra and available on ESPN+.
 
Radio: Rob Hipp and Dexter Werner will call the games on 107.9 The Fox and the 107.9 The Fox app. Audio of all NDSU basketball games is always streamed free at GoBison.com/AllAccess.
 
The Series vs. Oral Roberts: Thursday will be the 36th meeting all-time between North Dakota State and Oral Roberts, with the Bison leading the series 20-15. NDSU has won 15 of the 21 meetings since ORU returned to The Summit League in the 2014-15 season, including a sweep of all three games last season.
 
The Series vs. Kansas City: Saturday will be the 21st meeting all-time between NDSU and Kansas City. The Bison hold a 13-7 lead in the series. The Roos won both meetings between the schools last season.
 
In NDSU's Five-Game Win Streak …
 
•             Boden Skunberg and Grant Nelson are both averaging 15.2 points per game.
•             Andrew Morgan is averaging 13.2 points and 8.0 rebounds.
•             Boden Skunberg and Jacari White have combined to make 29-of-60 from three-point range (48 percent).
•             Andrew Morgan (14) and Grant Nelson (13) lead the Bison in assists.
•             NDSU is shooting 48 percent as a team and limiting its opponents to 41-percent shooting.
•             NDSU is holding its opponents to 60.8 points per game.
 
Boden's Buckets: Boden Skunberg erupted for a career-high 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc in NDSU's 78-65 road win over Omaha on Jan. 14. Skunberg drained a career-best seven three-pointers, including an electric stretch of three treys in 1 minute, 40 seconds, to take control of the game in the second half.
 
Little of Everything: Grant Nelson averaged 13.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.5 blocks, and 2.5 steals in NDSU's two road victories last week at Denver and Omaha.
 
One of a Kind: When Grant Nelson filled the stat sheet with 17 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals at Denver on Jan. 12, he became just the fifth Summit League player since 1996 to hit those marks in a game – but the first to accomplish it in under 30 minutes.

Upcoming Milestone: NDSU head coach David Richman needs two more victories to tie for second on the all-time wins list at North Dakota State. Now in his ninth season, Richman has compiled 167 wins. B.C. Bentson currently stands second on the list with a career mark of 169-207. Erv Inniger is the all-time winningest coach at NDSU with a mark of 244-150.
 
Settling In: Over the last five games, freshman point guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas is averaging 9.4 points in 30 minutes per game. He also played a stretch of 120 minutes with only one turnover committed.
 
Expanded Role: After averaging nine minutes per game in the month of November to open the season, sophomore Jacari White has carved out a role by becoming a defensive stopper. White has played over 31 minutes per game in Summit League play and has scored in double-figures in 9 of the past 12 games.
 
Developing Defense: In the three games that sparked the current winning streak, NDSU limited North Dakota, South Dakota State, and South Dakota to 49, 59, and 61 points, respectively. Those are the three lowest point totals allowed by the Bison against Division I opponents this season.
 
Nelson's New Level: Grant Nelson is averaging 18.0 points and 9.1 rebounds in Summit League play, shooting 57 percent from the floor.
 
Wide Variety: The Bison have used 9 different starting lineups in the last 12 games. In 19 total games this season, NDSU has used 11 different starting lineups. Seven different players have led the team in scoring.
 
Force In The Paint: Sophomore Andrew Morgan tied a career-high with 24 points in NDSU's win over South Dakota State on Jan. 5. He pulled down eight offensive boards – 13 rebounds total – to earn his second career double-double.
 
Late Runs: The Bison used significant second-half runs to pull out victories over South Dakota State and South Dakota. Trailing 48-41 with just under 10 minutes remaining vs. SDSU on Jan. 5, the Bison went on an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to pull ahead. On Jan. 7, South Dakota led 59-58 with five minutes left, but NDSU scored 12 unanswered points over the next four minutes to earn the win.