Bison Ambush Coyotes in second half victory

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (GoBison.com)– The North Dakota State men’s basketball team shot 60 percent in the second half to pull away for a 74-67 victory over South Dakota on Friday night at the CU Mortgage Direct Dakota Showcase held at the Sanford Pentagon.

NDSU (1-5) finished with four players scoring in double figures – Tyree Eady (17), Rocky Kreuser (16), Sam Griesel (16), and Maleeck Harden-Hayes (11). Eady made a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line, and Kreuser added eight rebounds and three assists.

NDSU made 19-of-21 at the free throw line in the contest. The Bison shot exactly 50 percent for the game, but converted a blistering 77 percent (20-for-26) on two-point shots.

Mason Archambault came off the bench for the Coyotes to lead their scoring attack with 17.  A.J. Plitzuweit and Stanley Umude chipped in with 14 apiece.

South Dakota led 30-27 at halftime after the Bison shot 3-for-16 from three-point range in the opening half.

The game was tied 47-47 when Harden-Hayes threw down a tip slam that shifted the momentum with just over eight minutes left. Harden-Hayes added a three-pointer one minute later that put the Bison up five at 54-49. NDSU never trailed again.

Bison sophomore Jarius Cook knocked down a clutch three-pointer that stretched a four-point margin to seven with 3:47 on the clock.

Eady is now averaging 15 points over his last three games against South Dakota.

NDSU plays North Dakota on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. for its final game in Sioux Falls. South Dakota is back in action for the third and final game of the Dakota Showcase when the team takes on rival South Dakota State Saturday at 8 p.m.  While all the contests at the Dakota Showcase are among Summit League schools, they do not count in the league standings.