N Dakota St defeats Kansas City 73-97
N Dakota St Dominates Kansas City in 24-Point Blowout
The Swinney Center was supposed to be the stage for an intense conference showdown between Kansas City and visiting N Dakota St on Friday night, but what transpired was a one-sided affair that left fans of both teams stunned.
N Dakota St's 97-73 victory over Kansas City was more than just a statement win – it was a demonstration of the Bison's dominance and a harbinger of things to come in the Missouri Valley Conference. The 24-point margin of defeat was the largest lead Kansas City would ever surrender at home this season, a testament to N Dakota St's suffocating defense.
The Bison came into halftime trailing by just two points, but that only fueled their second-half surge. Treyson Anderson led the charge with 23 points, including five three-pointers, as N Dakota St took control of the game after intermission. The senior guard's scoring outburst was matched by none other than his teammate, Andy Stefonowicz, who dished out eight assists and added a spark off the bench.
Kansas City struggled to keep pace with N Dakota St's relentless attack, unable to contain the Bison's inside-outside shooting attack. Karmello Branch led the Roos in scoring with 19 points on 5-11 three-point shooting but fell short of his team's expectations.
The game was never close after halftime, as N Dakota St extended its lead by as much as 28 points at one point in the fourth quarter. The Bison's defense held Kansas City to just 39% field goal shooting and forced 17 turnovers, which more than made up for their own 9 miscues on offense.
While Kansas City's Jayson Petty was impressive with six assists, he couldn't single-handedly stem the tide of N Dakota St's attack. For the Bison, Anderson's 23 points led all scorers but were only part of a balanced effort that saw seven players reach double figures in scoring or contribution.
The Bison's performance was a stark contrast to Kansas City's underwhelming output from beyond the arc (8/22). The Bison shot 62.9% from the field and committed just nine turnovers, showcasing their superior team cohesion.
The Swinney Center crowd, which had expected a high-scoring affair, left early in the third quarter when it became apparent that Kansas City wouldn't be able to close the gap on N Dakota St's relentless march towards the finish line. The Bison's dominance has raised questions about Kansas City's chances for success in conference play.
The result is a statement win for N Dakota St, which moves into the Missouri Valley Conference spotlight with renewed confidence.