N Dakota St defeats Omaha 76-78
N Dakota St Edges Omaha in Thrilling Comeback Victory
In a heart-stopping conference matchup, the visiting North Dakota State Bison (AWAY) edged out their hosts, the Omaha Mavericks (HOME), 78-76 at Baxter Arena on Monday night. The Mavericks, seeking to extend their winning streak, were left stunned by an incredible comeback from the Bison.
At halftime, the home team was leading 44-32, but N Dakota St erased a 12-point deficit in the second half to secure the two-point victory. Omaha's largest lead of the game had been 14 points early on, and the Mavericks never managed to regain control.
Paul Djobet led the Mavericks' charge with 22 points, including three triples, while Grant Stubblefield chipped in seven assists. However, despite their strong performances, Omaha was unable to overcome N Dakota St's potent offense.
Treyson Anderson spearheaded the Bison's attack, scoring 22 points on 53.8% shooting from the field. Damari Wheeler-Thomas also contributed six rebounds and 14 points off the bench for North Dakota State.
The advanced team statistics paint a more nuanced picture of both teams' performances. Omaha shot an efficient 51.0% from the field but struggled with their three-point game, making just 41.0% of their attempts. Meanwhile, N Dakota St showed incredible resilience, using its strong two-point shooting (73.3%) and limited turnovers to build a comeback.
The largest differentiator in this matchup was North Dakota State's rebounding advantage on the defensive end, grabbing 16 boards compared to Omaha's 20. This disparity allowed the Bison to maintain possession of the ball throughout much of the game, ultimately contributing to their victory.
In a stunning display of resilience and determination, N Dakota St erased a significant deficit in the second half to claim the win. The Mavericks will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to regain their footing in conference play.