FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team was tied with Illinois State at 66-66 with two minutes remaining, but the Redbirds pulled away to prevail with a 77-68 victory on Thursday night inside the Scheels Center.
 
NDSU (1-1) erased a 13-point first-half deficit to take a 56-55 lead on a three-pointer by Jacari White with 10:03 remaining in the contest. After Illinois State pushed the lead back to four at 64-60, the Bison tied the game at 66 with back-to-back buckets from White and a layup by Jacksen Moni.
 
The Redbirds scored on their next two possessions and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final minute.
 
White finished with a career-high 27 points to lead NDSU. Tajavis Miller added 10 points and five rebounds, and Moni had nine points, five assists and four rebounds.
 
NDSU shot 41 percent for the game and allowed 47.5-percent shooting from Illinois State. The Bison made 11-of-39 from three-point range (28 percent).
 
The Bison will go on a road trip to California next week, playing at CSU Bakersfield on Monday, Nov. 11, and at Santa Clara on Wednesday, Nov. 13.