MISSOULA, Mont. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team earned an 81-72 road win over Montana on Wednesday night at Dahlberg Arena.
 
NDSU improved to 6-3 with the victory, which was part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.
 
Montana is the defending Big Sky Conference champion and the preseason favorite to win the title again this season.
 
Five Bison scored in double figures, led by Damari Wheeler-Thomas with 23 points and five assists. Markhi Strickland finished with 16 points and seven rebounds. Trevian Carson scored 15 points, Andy Stefonowicz had 11, and Treyson Anderson added 10 points.
 
NDSU forced 14 turnovers and pulled down 13 offensive rebounds.
 
The Bison led for 30 of the game's 40 minutes, going ahead by 11 at 51-40 early in the second half. The Griz pulled within two points on four different occasions, but back-to-back threes by Anderson and Carson pushed the NDSU lead back to eight with 3:30 left.
 
The Bison will host Northern Arizona on Saturday night at 7 p.m.