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FARGO, N.D. – The Denver men's basketball team defeated North Dakota State, 78-70, on Thursday evening inside the Scheels Center. The Pioneers improved to 12-7 overall and 3-1 in The Summit League, while the Bison fell to 8-11 overall and 1-3 in the league.
 
NDSU senior Boden Skunberg led the Bison with 15 points and six rebounds. Junior Jacari White finished with 14 points and a pair of steals, and NDSU sophomore Damari Wheeler-Thomas had 12 points and four assists.
 
Touko Tainamo led Denver with 21 points.
 
Denver shot 54 percent for the game, compared to 44 percent for the Bison. NDSU struggled from three-point range, making 5-of-24 (21 percent).
 
The Pioneers led 37-34 at halftime. NDSU pulled ahead on a bucket by White just over five minutes into the second half, and the teams traded the lead 11 more times over the course of the second half.
 
White drained a three to give the Bison a 64-60 lead with 4:15 remaining, but Denver scored seven straight to take the lead for good. The Pioneers held a 69-68 advantage with just over one minute left when DU's Tommy Bruner made a clutch three-pointer.
 
NDSU had won 11 straight meetings with Denver prior to Thursday.
 
NDSU will host Oral Roberts on Saturday at 1 p.m.