FARGO, N.D. – Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 24 points to lead the North Dakota State men's basketball team to a 92-85 victory over Southern Illinois on Monday night inside the Scheels Center.
 
The Bison won their third straight game to improve to 3-2. NDSU connected for 16 three-pointers in the game, shooting 46 percent from downtown.
 
Wheeler-Thomas added four assists and knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc.
 
NDSU seniors Tay Smith and Markhi Strickland both added 15 points. Smith drilled five three-pointers in the first half.
 
Trevian Carson finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds for the Bison, and Andy Stefonowicz dished out six assists.
 
NDSU led for more than 31 of the game's 40 minutes, but it was an entertaining back-and-forth battle throughout the second half. The Bison held a nine-point advantage at 57-48 one minute into the second half, but the Salukis knotted the contest at 67-67 with just under 10 minutes left.
 
With the game tied at 77, Stefonowicz converted a three-point play with 3:00 remaining. NDSU redshirt freshman Carson Smith drained a clutch three-pointer to put NDSU up 85-79. Trevian Carson landed the dagger with a trey to put the Bison ahead 88-83 in the final minute.
 
The Bison will remain at home to host Jamestown on Wednesday this week.