VERMILLION, S.D. (Interstat) — In a wild Summit League shootout that required an extra period to decide, North Dakota State outlasted South Dakota 89-84 in overtime on Saturday at the DakotaDome.

The game, witnessed by 1,861 fans, was a tale of two halves and a dramatic final five minutes, ultimately allowing the Bison to escape with their 19th win of the season against five losses. South Dakota fell to an even 12-12.

North Dakota State appeared poised for a comfortable victory after a dominant first half. The Bison shot a blistering 54.8% from the field in the opening period, building a 39-25 lead at the break behind balanced scoring and active defense that generated nine first-half steals. The Bison opened the game on a 14-2 run, forcing two quick South Dakota timeouts, and never trailed in the half.

The second half, however, belonged almost entirely to the Coyotes and their explosive backcourt duo. South Dakota mounted a furious comeback, outscoring NDSU 49-35 after halftime. The catalyst was a historic performance from junior guard Jordan Crawford of Charlotte, North Carolina, who poured in 33 points, with 28 coming after intermission. He was complemented by fellow guard Uzziah Buntyn of Round Rock, Texas, who finished with 25 points and four assists, shouldering the offensive load as the Coyotes chipped away at the deficit.

South Dakota’s surge was fueled by aggressive drives and free-throw accuracy, going 20 of 23 from the line for the game. They finally drew even at 74-74 on a driving layup by Crawford with just 20 seconds remaining in regulation. North Dakota State’s Andy Stefonowicz had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but his contested jumper missed, sending the game to overtime.

The extra period saw the Bison reclaim control with a critical 7-0 run to start. Stefonowicz, a guard from Minnetonka, Minnesota, who orchestrated the offense with 15 points and 10 assists, found Trevian Carson for a dunk and then fed Tay Smith for a three-pointer to establish an 81-74 lead. South Dakota, with its primary offensive weapons showing signs of fatigue, could never recover from that initial overtime punch, getting no closer than three points the rest of the way.

North Dakota State’s efficiency proved decisive. The Bison scored 89 points on 75 possessions, an offensive rating of 118.3, and shot 54.7% from the field (35 of 64). They also hit 10 of 22 three-point attempts. South Dakota, while effective offensively with a 115.2 rating, was less efficient from deep, making 10 of 31 threes.

Inside, the Bison were anchored by Noah Feddersen of Menomonie, Wisconsin. The 6-foot-10 forward scored 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting in just 25 minutes, adding a block and several key offensive rebounds. Carson, from West Des Moines, Iowa, added 14 points, while Smith (Bowling Green, Kentucky) and Markhi Strickland (Miami, Florida) each chipped in 15.

For South Dakota, Cameron Fens of Dubuque, Iowa, provided an interior presence with 16 points and two blocks. The Coyotes won the turnover battle 14-11 and shot well from the stripe, but the Bison’s superior field goal percentage and their composed response in overtime were the final difference-makers.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for North Dakota State, which defeated South Dakota 84-61 in Fargo on New Year’s Eve. The Bison now turn their attention to a home matchup with Denver on Thursday, while South Dakota travels to face Missouri-Kansas City on Wednesday.