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TULSA, Okla. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team lost a hard-fought battle on Saturday night, falling 74-66 to first-place Oral Roberts inside the Mabee Center.
 
Grant Nelson finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three steals to lead the Bison. Boden Skunberg added 13 points and eight boards.
 
NDSU fell behind by 19 in the first half, but cut the deficit to four at 34-30 in the final minute before halftime.
 
The Bison trailed by one at 38-37 with 13:30 remaining, but ORU scored the next seven points.
 
NDSU pulled within four at 63-59 with 1:30 to play. ORU made nine free throws in the final minute.
 
The Bison shot 43 percent for the game and limited the Golden Eagles to 37-percent shooting. NDSU made just 4-of-21 from three-point range, while ORU hit 10-of-35 from beyond the arc.
 
Oral Roberts improved to 16-0 in The Summit League, and NDSU fell to 9-7.
 
The Bison will return home to host St. Thomas on Thursday, Feb. 23, and Western Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 25.