CARBONDALE, Ill. - The No. 2-ranked North Dakota State football team picked up its sixth straight victory 24-3 over Southern Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 12, before a homecoming crowd of 9,610 at Saluki Stadium.

NDSU improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, while Southern Illinois fell to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the league.

Linebacker Logan Kopp made a team-high seven tackles including one of NDSU's four sacks as the Bison held SIU to 4 of 10 on third down and 187 total yards.

NDSU's defense created two turnovers, including a forced fumble by Sam Jung and recovery by Nick Kubitz on the game's opening drive. The Bison turned that into a seven-play, 76-yard scoring drive capped by Barika Kpeenu's 6-yard touchdown run.

SIU got its only points on a 50-yard Paul Geelen field goal in the second quarter, but the Bison responded with a 14-play scoring drive. Chris Harris caught his second touchdown in two games on an 11-yard pass from Cam Miller to give NDSU a 14-3 halftime lead.

The Bison tacked on a 34-yard Griffin Crosa field goal in the third quarter and a 9-yard touchdown run by CharMar Brown in the fourth quarter. Darius Givance snared his first collegiate interception before NDSU ran out the clock 

NDSU quarterback Cam Miller went 18 of 24 passing for 193 yards and Brown finished with 20 carries for 95 yards. Bryce Lance led nine Bison receivers with five catches for 63 yards.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host top-ranked South Dakota State in the 21st annual Dakota Marker game next Saturday, Oct. 19, at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome.