MISSOULA, Mont. – Sophomore Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored a career-high 22 points to lift the North Dakota State men's basketball team to an impressive 78-69 road win over Montana on Thursday night.
 
NDSU senior Boden Skunberg finished with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and no turnovers. Tajavis Miller made four three-pointers for 12 points and grabbed seven boards.
 
Montana was picked second in the Big Sky Conference preseason poll. The two schools will meet for a rematch on Jan. 3 in Fargo.
 
NDSU (3-2 overall) led 40-33 at halftime after shooting 54 percent in the opening period.
 
The Bison led by as many as 17 at 66-49 with five minutes remaining. The Grizzlies trimmed the margin to three at 72-69 with 0:24 on the clock, but NDSU went 6-for-6 at the free throw line to seal the victory.
 
NDSU led for more than 31 of the game's 40 minutes, and the Bison committed only five turnovers in the contest. NDSU drained 9-of-23 (39 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
The Bison will return home to host Wisconsin-Stout on Monday, Nov. 20.