N Dakota St defeats Drake 94-99
N Dakota St Outlasts Drake in Thrilling 99-94 Victory
The Knapp Center was electric last night as North Dakota State University's Bison men's basketball team edged out Drake University's Bulldogs in an instant classic, 99-94. The thrilling non-conference matchup saw the visiting Bison come from behind to claim a five-point victory.
As the game tipped off, it was clear that this would be no ordinary contest. In fact, by halftime, North Dakota State had built a 16-point lead (55-41) on the strength of their hot shooting and relentless pace. However, Drake showed its mettle in the second half, chipping away at the deficit with precision three-point shooting.
With just over five minutes remaining, the Bulldogs trailed by just one point, but the Bison's Trevian Carson would prove to be the difference-maker. The sharpshooter sank a crucial three-pointer, putting N Dakota State up by 10 and forcing Drake into a frantic comeback attempt.
In the end, it was North Dakota State that emerged victorious, thanks in large part to the balanced attack of Carson (29 points) and Damari Wheeler-Thomas (14 points, 9 assists). The Bison's bench also played a crucial role, outscoring Drake's reserves by 17 points.
For Drake, Jalen Quinn was the standout performer on both ends of the floor. The senior guard scored 24 points while also notching six rebounds and six assists.
Game Leaders
N Dakota St:
* Trevian Carson: 29 pts, 5-7 3PT
* Damari Wheeler-Thomas: 14 pts, 9 ast
Drake:
* Jalen Quinn: 24 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast