Bold claim: this Bison offense is firing on all cylinders, and they’re not slowing down anytime soon. But here’s where it gets controversial: does a big non-conference win truly predict post-season success, or are we merely watching a peak before tougher tests ahead?
North Dakota State dominated Minnesota Crookston 101-67 on Monday night to pick up their 10th win in 11 games, closing the non-conference slate with a statement victory at home. The win pushed NDSU to 10-3 for the season, marking the best start for the program since they opened 16-3 in the 2012-13 season.
Key performances anchored the night. Markhi Strickland poured in 19 points on an incredible 9-for-10 shooting clip to lead the Bison. Damari Wheeler-Thomas contributed 14 points, while Andy Stefonowicz and Noah Feddersen each reached double figures with 10 points apiece. Feddersen also led the team on the boards with six rebounds.
Defensively, Tay Smith stood out with six steals, helping the Bison rack up 16 steals as a team. This defensive pressure translated into a commanding performance where nine Bison players finished with at least seven points, and the squad shot a solid 53 percent from the floor. They also connected on 9 of 23 attempts from three-point range (39%).
This game marked NDSU’s only setback in the last 40 days—a 85-80 overtime defeat at Arkansas State on November 28—meaning the team has been rolling with only one loss in a lengthy stretch of games.
Looking ahead, the Bison head to El Paso, Texas, for the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on December 21-22. The schedule includes a matchup with UC Irvine on Sunday, December 21, followed by a second game on Monday, December 22, versus Norfolk State or UTEP.
How much weight should we assign to non-conference results like this when forecasting success in Summit League play and beyond? Do you think the Bison’s depth and defensive versatility can sustain a deeper tourney run, or will the schedule keep exposing vulnerabilities once conference play ramps up?
