Next Game:
11/18/2024 | 7 p.m.
ESPN+
107.9 The Fox, Bison 1660
Nov. 18 (Mon) / 7 p.m.
at Southern Illinois
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In an exhilarating matchup, the North Dakota State men’s basketball team overcame a substantial early deficit to secure an impressive 88-80 overtime triumph against Santa Clara on Wednesday night at the Leavey Center.
The Broncos built a commanding 19-point lead, at 37-18, with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. Despite the challenging start, the Bison managed to halt the momentum and narrowed the gap to 10 as they went into halftime at 39-29.
NDSU embarked on a determined comeback, pulling within four at 39-35 less than two minutes into the second half. This impressive turnaround was marked by a scoring run of 17-2 over a span of 5:45 that bridged both halves.
Santa Clara attempted to reestablish their dominance, extending the lead back to 10 points at 57-47. However, the resilient Bison fought back once again, trimming the score to 61-57 with just 5:40 remaining on the clock. In a thrilling moment, Masen Miller’s three-pointer brought NDSU even closer at 66-63 with only 2:05 to play.
With the Bison trailing 70-65 in the final seconds, Jacari White launched and successfully hit a deep three-pointer with just 7.6 seconds left. Following a foul by NDSU on the next possession, Santa Clara failed to capitalize, missing the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the free-throw line. In a nail-biting finale, Brennan Watkins sprinted the length of the court and drew a foul as time expired, sinking both free throws to tie the game at 70-70, forcing overtime.
The Bison showcased their offensive prowess in the overtime period, scoring 18 points, with Jacksen Moni contributing nine of those crucial points to seal the victory.
White and Moni were the standout performers for NDSU, each netting 19 points, while Watkins achieved a season-high 14 points. White also recorded six rebounds, five assists, and two steals, adding to his impressive performance on the court.
The Bison displayed exceptional marksmanship from beyond the arc, hitting 15-of-32 (47 percent) from three-point range throughout the contest.
Santa Clara entered the game with high expectations, having been selected third in the West Coast Conference preseason poll, just behind powerhouse programs Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
The Bison will look to continue their momentum as they prepare to face Southern Illinois next on Monday, Nov. 18.
What key strategies did the NDSU head coach implement to secure a comeback victory against Santa Clara?
**Interview with NDSU Head Coach on Recent Victory and Upcoming Game**
**Editor:** Today we have the pleasure of speaking with the North Dakota State men’s basketball head coach, who just led the team to an impressive victory against Santa Clara and is looking ahead to their upcoming game against Southern Illinois. Thank you for joining us, Coach!
**Coach:** Thanks for having me! It’s great to be here.
**Editor:** Let’s start with the thrilling overtime win over Santa Clara. Your team faced a significant early deficit. What adjustments did you make during the game that contributed to the comeback?
**Coach:** Well, it was definitely a tough spot to be in, but I was really proud of our guys for their resilience. We focused on tightening our defense to disrupt their rhythm and made some key substitutions to bring in fresh legs. The communication on the floor improved, and we executed our offensive plays much better in the second half.
**Editor:** Your team managed to rally from a 19-point deficit. Can you talk about the mindset of the players during that critical moment?
**Coach:** Sure! The mindset was all about staying positive and believing in ourselves. I kept reminding the guys that we’d been in situations like this before. Once we started chipping away at the lead, you could see the belief grow. They were hungry, and that 17-2 scoring run really shifted the momentum in our favor.
**Editor:** Looking forward to the game against Southern Illinois on November 18th, what specific challenges do you anticipate facing?
**Coach:** Southern Illinois is a tough opponent. They have a strong home court advantage, and they play a physical style of basketball. We’ll need to prepare for their defense and establish our own game rhythm early on. Each game is a new challenge, but we’re focused and ready to take it on.
**Editor:** How crucial do you think the upcoming game is in the context of the season?
**Coach:** Every game at this stage is important for our growth as a team. It’s a good opportunity to build on our momentum and improve our standing moving forward. We’re taking it one game at a time, but we know Southern Illinois is a key matchup.
**Editor:** Lastly, any message for the Bison fans ahead of this game?
**Coach:** Absolutely! We appreciate the support from all our fans. Your energy makes a huge difference in our play. We’ll be looking to channel that support into another strong performance. Let’s go Bison!
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach, for your insights. Best of luck in your upcoming game!
**Coach:** Thank you! Looking forward to it.
