Bison Sports Update: March 9th

Yeah, probably a week we would all like to forget in many ways. Lets point out the positives.

Men's Basketball
The Bison played in the Summit League Tournament this past weekend. They took on 7th seeded Denver first. NDSU looked very sluggish in the first half. But after halftime they were a different team. They dominated Denver from every angle in the last 15 minutes of the game. The Bison won that game 82-62. Then they played Oral Roberts and Max Abmas in the semifinals. Many were curious if the Bison could pull of a full 3-0 sweep of a team that visited the Sweet 16 a season ago. Oh, NDSU did that and more! The Bison came out on the floor hungry for a win, and they sure got one! NDSU dominated Oral Roberts on both sides of the floor and in every aspect of the game on Monday night. Abmas put up 28 points, but the real spectacle was that NDSU's Sam Griesel put up his career high 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists; and Grant Nelson put up 22 points as well! Rocky Kreuser added with 16 points of his own. However, the Bison had one more mountain climb if they wanted to enter the NCAA Tournament: they needed to take down the record-breaking Jackrabbits. The game was a lot of back and forth and a close nature. But between the crowd being 90% blue and the 3-point hands getting cold for most of the game, the Bison fell 69-75. 
This puts a very bitter taste in the mouth of NDSU fans who have watch all three seniors for years, to come up just short of their dreams. This wasn't how this was supposed to end for them. But as always, they handled even their final defeat with a hell of a lot of grace and confidence. No complaining, no pushing the blame. Giving credit where its due, saying their peace, and moving on to their next phase in life. While here at Wildshow Minnesota we may not be able to speak to the trio personally, I can tell you these are three of the best basketball players to come through NDSU, if not ever. Their presence will be sorely missed on the campus in Fargo and on the basketball court at the Scheels Center. We wish them the best of luck in their future opportunities, in basketball or otherwise. Once a Bison, always a Bison!

North Dakota State Men's Basketball finishes the season with a 13-5 Summit League record, and a 23-10 record overall.

Women's Basketball
NDSU Women's Basketball had an even worse Sunday. The Bison came to Sioux Falls as the 6th seed in the tournament. They played 3rd seeded Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. NDSU lead for three out of four quarter over the Roos. But they couldn't hold off KC in the 4th quarter resulting in the loss. 
This is definitely not the season Bison fans expected to see from this team, and head coach Jory Collins surmised as much in his postgame interview. He mentioned how this year he felt the team could go 18-11 rather then 11-18. Collins vowed that next season will be different for the Bison. (source: Fargo Forum)

North Dakota State Women's Basketball finishes the season with a 7-11 Summit League record, and an 11-18 overall record.

Softball
This past weekend NDSU Softball visited the West Coast for the Amy S. Harrison Classic. The Bison started off with a great Friday showing! They beat CSU Northridge 2-1 and California Baptist 9-4. But they couldn't keep the momentum going and lost the next three games; two to UC Riverside (host) 2-3 in 8 innings and 7-9, as well as losing to nationally ranked Oregon State 1-3.
The Bison will continue to stay out on the West Coast when they play in the Oregon/Oregon State Invite this coming weekend. They will play six games in three days, the most of any tournament they will play this year. While in Eugene, Oregon they will play all teams twice including: Portland State, Oregon State, and Oregon.

North Dakota State Softball is 12-7 on the season.

Baseball
NDSU Baseball didn't have a the greatest of weekends either. While on Friday, the Bison came up big and upset nationally ranked Long Beach State 5-4, NDSU fell the next two days by scores of 2-5 and 5-8. But, the Bison then travelled to Minneapolis to take on the Gophers and beat them, 5-2. 
This week, NDSU will travel to Florida for the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational to play Maine in a three game series spanning from Friday to Sunday.

North Dakota State Bison Baseball is 6-6 on the season.

Go Bison!!