NDSU Bison Fall to Saint Mary's 105-64 in California
The Gaels set a school record with 20 three-pointers while the Bison struggled from deep.
By Samantha Reed ·
North Dakota State men's basketball entered its second nonconference contest of the season facing a stark disparity in shooting efficiency. The Bison, now 1-1, dropped a 105-64 decision to Saint Mary's on Wednesday in Moraga, California. The loss marked the opening leg of a three-game trip to the West Coast.
The numerical gap in perimeter shooting defined the game. Saint Mary's connected on 20 of 31 three-point attempts, a school record. Joshua Dent contributed 17 points by going 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. In contrast, NDSU finished the game 22% from the three-point line. The Bison shot 38% from the field overall but managed only 27% in the first half. They held a 19-16 advantage in total rebounds, securing 10 offensive boards, yet the scoring output did not match the possession control.
Karl Poom led the Bison with 15 points, while Max Iverson added 11. Kaden Tate, Poom, and Carson Smith each recorded four rebounds. Saint Mary's and NDSU each collected 30 total rebounds. The Gaels crossed the 100-point threshold with a three-pointer by Jeremy Dent-Smith with 1:22 remaining on the clock.
Head coach David Richman acknowledged the talent level of his opponents in postgame radio comments. He described Saint Mary's as a talented outfit that shares the basketball effectively. Richman stated that the team needed to dictate the pace and disrupt the Gaels' comfort zone, a task he admitted they did not accomplish. He noted that NDSU is a brand-new group on the opposite end of the spectrum from a program with deep tradition and success.
The Bison led for only 19 seconds of the contest. Their final lead was a 5-3 margin. After a three-pointer by Diaz cut the deficit to 16-13, the Gaels pulled away. NDSU improved to 46% shooting in the second half but failed to sustain their three-point rhythm from the previous night's win over Minnesota-Crookston. They went 1 for 8 from deep in the last 20 minutes.
This was the second meeting between these programs. Saint Mary's won their 2013 contest on their home court by a score of 78-65. The Bison continue their California swing with a Friday 9 p.m. CT matchup against San Francisco.
