Sunday, March 8
Sioux Falls, S.D.
8 p.m.
North Dakota State Athletics
27-7,14-2Summit League
70
vs
62
North Dakota
18-17,10-6Summit League
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | 30 | 32 | 62 |
| North Dakota St. | 38 | 32 | 70 |
Photo by: Zachary Lucy
Bison Headed Back to Big Dance with Summit League Tournament Title
3/9/2026 12:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The North Dakota State men's basketball team won the Summit League Tournament title with a 70-62 victory over No. 3 seed North Dakota on Sunday night.
It was the sixth Summit League Tournament title for the Bison and the first since 2020. NDSU improved to 27-7 on the season, setting a new school record for wins on the way to sweeping the regular season and tournament crowns.
Damari Wheeler-Thomas paced the Bison with 19 points, surpassing 1,000 for his career. Tay Smith drained four three-pointers and scored 13 points off the bench. Trevian Carson finished with 10 rebounds and four assists.
NDSU led for more than 33 of the game's 40 minutes. The Bison closed the first half with an 8-0 run to lead 38-30 at the break, and NDSU never trailed again.
The Bison stretched the margin to 13 at 63-50 with just over three minutes remaining. UND scored nine straight points to make the score 63-59, but Noah Feddersen drilled a victory-clinching three from the top of the key with 51 seconds left.
NDSU held the Fighting Hawks to 36-percent shooting. The Bison hit 10-of-23 (43 percent) from beyond the arc.
NDSU will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in its Division I history, joining 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020.
It was the sixth Summit League Tournament title for the Bison and the first since 2020. NDSU improved to 27-7 on the season, setting a new school record for wins on the way to sweeping the regular season and tournament crowns.
Damari Wheeler-Thomas paced the Bison with 19 points, surpassing 1,000 for his career. Tay Smith drained four three-pointers and scored 13 points off the bench. Trevian Carson finished with 10 rebounds and four assists.
NDSU led for more than 33 of the game's 40 minutes. The Bison closed the first half with an 8-0 run to lead 38-30 at the break, and NDSU never trailed again.
The Bison stretched the margin to 13 at 63-50 with just over three minutes remaining. UND scored nine straight points to make the score 63-59, but Noah Feddersen drilled a victory-clinching three from the top of the key with 51 seconds left.
NDSU held the Fighting Hawks to 36-percent shooting. The Bison hit 10-of-23 (43 percent) from beyond the arc.
NDSU will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in its Division I history, joining 2009, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2020.
Team Stats
UND
NDSU
FG%
.364
.446
3FG%
.308
.435
FT%
.824
.526
RB
33
41
TO
8
11
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballNorth Dakota State Men's Basketball -- 2026 Summit League Tournament Champions -- Cinematic Recap
Friday, March 13
The Bison Basketball Show - March 11, 2026
Thursday, March 12
The Bison Basketball Show - March 4, 2026
Thursday, March 05
North Dakota vs. NDSU Men's Basketball Highlights - February 28, 2026
Sunday, March 01
