Southern Illinois University
2-2,0-0MVC
North Dakota State University
3-2,0-0Summit League
Bison shoot their way past Salukis, 92-85
11/17/2025 | 9:15:00 | Men's Basketball
FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State started hot, weathered Southern Illinois' second-half rally, and closed with clutch shooting and tough defense.
The Bison hit nine of their first 12 shots from 3-point range, building a lead as large as 11 points late in the first half. They finished the half 12-for-21 from beyond the arc, and the Salukis trailed by seven at the break.
Tay Smith went 5-for-8 from deep in the first half, accounting for all 15 of his points. Damari Wheeler-Thomas added three 3-pointers on five attempts, and Trevian Carson was 2-for-3. NDSU finished 16-for-35 from long range — the second-most made 3-pointers and second-most attempts by an opponent in SIU history.
While the Bison lit it up from outside, the Salukis shot well inside the arc, going 19-for-30 on 2-point attempts.
SIU surged in the second half, cutting the lead to one with 14:19 remaining. NDSU answered with a 3-pointer from Wheeler-Thomas and a free throw and dunk from Markhi Strickland to push the margin back to five. The Salukis responded with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 67 with just under 10 minutes left.
The teams traded baskets before Southern took its first lead on a Rolyns Aligbe layup at the 6:58 mark. The Salukis never led by more than two and couldn't hold on down the stretch.
Two clutch 3-pointers — one by Carson Smith with 2:06 left and another by Tay Carson with 36 seconds remaining — sealed the win for NDSU.
Quel'Ron House led SIU in scoring for the fourth straight game to open the 2025-26 season. The sophomore from Louisville, Kentucky, and this week's MVC Newcomer of the Week, finished with 23 points.
Davion Sykes added 14 points and seven rebounds. Isaiah Stafford and Rolyns Aligbe scored 12 each, and Damien Mayo Jr. had 11. The Aligbe brothers combined for 13 rebounds — Rolyns with seven and Prince with six. Southern dominated the paint, outscoring NDSU 56-22 inside, but the Bison's 3-point barrage proved too much.
Wheeler-Thomas led NDSU with 24 points. Strickland and Smith scored 15 apiece, with Strickland adding four steals. Carson grabbed four rebounds.
