As it turned out, trailing at the half was right where North Dakota State wanted to be.
For the second consecutive game against South Dakota, the Bison were able to turn a half deficit into a crucial win, the most recent sending them to the Summit League Tournament final. NDSU’s 79-75 win over the Coyotes in the semifinal locked in a third straight appearance for the Bison in the title game.
The game, however, still seemed in the balance late.
USD led by nine with seven minutes left until senior Rocky Kreuser and junior Sam Griesel carried the Bison down the stretch to overturn the deficit and punch NDSU’s ticket to its third straight final in Sioux Falls. Griesel — who scored 16 points and went 6-8 from the free throw line — talked about the team’s second half performance in the postgame press conference.