The SDSU men’s basketball team took on North Dakota State on Saturday in front of 4,912 people, including former Jackrabbit Nate Wolters at Frost Arena. The game went back and forth until the Jacks used a late run to bring them to a 68-58 victory and a tie for first place in the Summit League with the Bison.

 

The largest lead for either team was six points when the Jacks led 27-21 with 3:01 remaining in the first half. The Jacks would take a 29-24 lead into halftime.

 

NDSU led 40-38 after a 7-0 run, this was their first lead since leading 3-0 51 seconds into the game. The Bison took a 50-47 lead with 7:25 left in the game. Junior Deondre Parks would answer on the other end with a three of his own and was fouled on the shot, he would make the free throw and give the Jacks a 51-50 lead.

 

With 4:27 remaining, freshman Reed Tellinghuisen hit a three to give the Jacks a 60-54 lead. The following possession, senior Cody Larson would get a layup and the Jacks led 62-54 with 3:25 left and they would not look back.

 

The Jacks improved their overall record to 19-8 and 10-3 in the Summit League with the win. The Bison dropped to 18-8 overall and 10-3 in the Summit League. SDSU has yet to lose a game in Frost Arena this season as they are 12-0 at home.

 

“I thought our guys were tough today, even when things didn’t go our way in the second half our kids didn’t get discouraged and it was about as physical we played all year and the best we rebounded all year,” Head Coach Scott Nagy said.

 

Junior guard George Marshall led SDSU with 19 points and three assists in the game. “The first half we started off real slow and the second half we just played with more energy,” Marshall said.

 

Parks took 12 points including three big threes, all of them coming in the second half. “I just jumped up and made shots and we got guys crashing every time shots go up and that gives us extra possessions.” Parks said.

 

The Jackrabbits had five guys score in double figures on Saturday. “We got a lot of guys who can go out and get 20 any night and it’s great to have guys who can do what we do as a starting five,” Parks said.

 

“We don’t have one guy that a team can focus on,” Nagy said about the diverse talent and shooting capability of the team.

 

The Jacks made seven of the 11 three-pointers attempted in the second half.

 

“This was definitely a big win, you know. We lost the last one and now we’re in first place,” Marshall said.

“It’s what we’ve been working for and what we will continue to work for,” Parks said.

 

The Jackrabbits are tied for first place, but Nagy told the kids, “Don’t listen to anyone telling you that you’re doing a great job unless it’s me.We’re just working hard to stay humble and hungry.”

 

The Jacks hit the road Wednesday when they head to Macomb, Ill. to face Western Illinois before coming back home on Saturday for the their final game at Frost Arena as they take on Oral Roberts.