Sunday, December 21
El Paso, Texas
6 p.m. CT
North Dakota State Athletics
vs
UC Irvine
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
Bison Return to Sun Bowl Invitational, Meet UC Irvine in Opener
12/19/2025 11:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Games: The North Dakota State men's basketball team has won 10 of its last 11 games as it travels to El Paso, Texas, this weekend to take part in the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for the third time.
Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. UC Irvine 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT
Monday, Dec. 22 vs. UTEP / Norfolk State 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. CT
Where to Watch: The games will be streamed on YouTube on the @SunBowlAssociation channel.
Radio: Sam Neidermann will call the games on 107.9 The Fox and Bison 1660. Broadcasts can also be streamed on the NDSU Athletics app, as well as at GoBison.com/AllAccess for free.
Hot Start: NDSU's 10-3 record is the best start for the Bison since going 16-3 in the 2012-13 season.
Back in El Paso: This will be NDSU's third appearance at the Sun Bowl Invitational, joining 2014 and 2017. The Bison won the title in 2017, defeating UNC Wilmington and UTEP.
Dec. 21, 2014 Kent State L, 52-53
Dec. 22, 2014 Alcorn State W, 61-50
Dec. 21, 2017 UNC Wilmington W, 100-63
Dec. 22, 2017 UTEP W, 63-51
Against UC Irvine: Sunday will be the fifth meeting all-time between the Bison and Anteaters, with UC Irvine holding a 3-1 lead in the series. The two schools played each season from 1972-73 through 1975-76.
Monday Matchups: NDSU's only previous meeting with UTEP was in the championship game of the 2017 Sun Bowl Invitational, which the Bison won 63-51. NDSU has never played Norfolk State.
Been Awhile: When NDSU and UC Irvine tip off on Sunday, the Bison will have just one loss in a span of 45 days -- an 85-80 overtime defeat at Arkansas State on Nov. 28.
Significant Margin: NDSU is No. 11 in the NCAA for turnover margin at +5.6 per game.
On the Mark: Markhi Strickland is shooting 64 percent from the field, going 80-for-125. His 80 makes are the second-most among all D-I players shooting better than 60 percent this season.
Board Man Gets Paid: Among players 6-foot-3 and shorter, Trevian Carson ranks third nationally for rebounds per game at 7.3.
Rise in Theft: NDSU ranks 21st in the nation for steals per game this year after ranking 352nd nationally last season. Through just 13 games, the Bison have already surpassed last season's steals total.
Nationally Ranked: Markhi Strickland is ranked 20th in the nation for field goal percentage (64.0%). Trevian Carson is 27th in the country in steals per game (2.31).
Three-Point Barrage: The Bison drained 19 three-pointers in the 99-94 win at Drake on Dec. 13 – the second-highest total in a game in school history. The school record was set on Nov. 26 last season when NDSU made 20 three-pointers at Samford.
Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. UC Irvine 6 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. MT
Monday, Dec. 22 vs. UTEP / Norfolk State 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. CT
Where to Watch: The games will be streamed on YouTube on the @SunBowlAssociation channel.
Radio: Sam Neidermann will call the games on 107.9 The Fox and Bison 1660. Broadcasts can also be streamed on the NDSU Athletics app, as well as at GoBison.com/AllAccess for free.
Hot Start: NDSU's 10-3 record is the best start for the Bison since going 16-3 in the 2012-13 season.
Back in El Paso: This will be NDSU's third appearance at the Sun Bowl Invitational, joining 2014 and 2017. The Bison won the title in 2017, defeating UNC Wilmington and UTEP.
Dec. 21, 2014 Kent State L, 52-53
Dec. 22, 2014 Alcorn State W, 61-50
Dec. 21, 2017 UNC Wilmington W, 100-63
Dec. 22, 2017 UTEP W, 63-51
Against UC Irvine: Sunday will be the fifth meeting all-time between the Bison and Anteaters, with UC Irvine holding a 3-1 lead in the series. The two schools played each season from 1972-73 through 1975-76.
Monday Matchups: NDSU's only previous meeting with UTEP was in the championship game of the 2017 Sun Bowl Invitational, which the Bison won 63-51. NDSU has never played Norfolk State.
Been Awhile: When NDSU and UC Irvine tip off on Sunday, the Bison will have just one loss in a span of 45 days -- an 85-80 overtime defeat at Arkansas State on Nov. 28.
Significant Margin: NDSU is No. 11 in the NCAA for turnover margin at +5.6 per game.
On the Mark: Markhi Strickland is shooting 64 percent from the field, going 80-for-125. His 80 makes are the second-most among all D-I players shooting better than 60 percent this season.
Board Man Gets Paid: Among players 6-foot-3 and shorter, Trevian Carson ranks third nationally for rebounds per game at 7.3.
Rise in Theft: NDSU ranks 21st in the nation for steals per game this year after ranking 352nd nationally last season. Through just 13 games, the Bison have already surpassed last season's steals total.
Nationally Ranked: Markhi Strickland is ranked 20th in the nation for field goal percentage (64.0%). Trevian Carson is 27th in the country in steals per game (2.31).
Over the Last Five Games …
- Damari Wheeler-Thomas is averaging 16.4 points and 3.8 assists.
- Trevian Carson is averaging 16.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.8 steals.
- Andy Stefonowicz is shooting 65 percent from beyond the arc (13-of-20).
- Treyson Anderson is averaging 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Three-Point Barrage: The Bison drained 19 three-pointers in the 99-94 win at Drake on Dec. 13 – the second-highest total in a game in school history. The school record was set on Nov. 26 last season when NDSU made 20 three-pointers at Samford.
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