NDSU Hosts Montana Wednesday, Plays at Eastern Washington Saturday in Big Sky-Summit Challenge

Wednesday, January 3

Fargo, N.D.

7 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

Montana

Photo by: Zachary Lucy

NDSU Hosts Montana Wednesday, Plays at Eastern Washington Saturday in Big Sky-Summit Challenge

1/2/2024 12:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Complete NDSU Game Notes

The Games: The North Dakota State men's basketball team (7-7 overall) will play a pair of games in the inaugural Big Sky-Summit League Challenge this week. The Bison will host Montana on Wednesday, before traveling to Cheney, Wash., to play Eastern Washington on Saturday.

        Wednesday, Jan. 3 vs. Montana 7 p.m. CT
Dress-Up Theme: Ball-o-ween / Wear A Costume

        Saturday, Jan. 6    at Eastern Washington      4 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. PT

Where to Watch: The Montana game will be broadcast on WDAY Xtra locally and available for streaming purchase on the new Summit League Network through the Midco Sports Plus app. The Eastern Washington game will be available on ESPN+.

Radio: Sam Neidermann (play-by-play) and Dexter Werner (analyst) will call Wednesday's game on 107.9 The Fox, with Neidermann also calling Saturday's road game solo. Broadcasts can also be streamed on the NDSU Athletics app, as well as at GoBison.com/AllAccess for free all season long.

Against Montana: Wednesday will be the 13th meeting all-time between NDSU and Montana, with the Griz leading the series 8-4. The Bison won 78-69 in Missoula on Nov. 16 this season.

Last Time vs. Montana: Sophomore Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored a career-high 22 points to lift the Bison to a 78-69 road win over Montana on Nov. 16. Boden Skunberg finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists. Tajavis Miller made four three-pointers for 12 points and grabbed seven boards.
        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.

Against Eastern Washington: The Bison and Eagles have split their only two previous meetings. Eastern Washington won 78-70 in Cheney on Dec. 3 last season.

Last Time vs. Eastern Washington: Steele Venters scored 33 points to lead EWU to a 78-70 victory over NDSU on Dec. 3 last season at Reese Court.
        NDSU led 54-53 with 8:30 remaining after Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 10 points in a span of less than three minutes for a 10-0 Bison run. The Eagles responded with eight straight points. With EWU up 64-59 and just under five minutes left, the Eagles scored six straight to take control.
        Wheeler-Thomas and Jacari White both scored 14 points to lead NDSU. The Bison were hampered by 17 turnovers in the contest.

Hands Off: The Bison rank 22nd in the nation for fewest fouls committed per game, averaging just 13.9 fouls through 14 games.

Balanced Attack: Nine different Bison have scored in double figures this season.

Familiar Territory: The Bison have played in five consecutive Summit League Tournament championship games from 2019-23, winning the title in 2019 and 2020. NDSU has played in 9 of the past 11 Summit League championship games, dating back to March 2013.

Top of the Summit: North Dakota State and South Dakota State are the only Summit League schools to finish among the top three in the league standings every year over the past five seasons.
          In seven of David Richman's nine seasons at NDSU, the Bison have finished in a tie for third place or better in The Summit League.