North Dakota State Tops South Dakota State 74-66
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 8:00 PM ET · First Bank & Trust Arena
North Dakota State Bison 74, South Dakota State Jackrabbits 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won North Dakota State Bison vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits?
North Dakota State Bison beat South Dakota State Jackrabbits 74-66 at First Bank & Trust Arena on February 18, 2026.
Who was favored in North Dakota State Bison vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits?
North Dakota State Bison were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The favorite won.
In a closely contested matchup, the North Dakota State Bison defeated the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 74-66 at the First Bank & Trust Arena. This victory adds to North Dakota State's impressive season, where they hold a record of 22-6, while South Dakota State falls to 12-16. The Bison's recent form has been strong, with a record of 9-1 over their last ten games, currently riding a two-game winning streak and averaging 82.2 points scored per game against 72.6 allowed. In contrast, the Jackrabbits have struggled more, with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, and they have averaged 75.4 points scored while allowing 73.6.
The game began with North Dakota State establishing a lead that they would maintain throughout. South Dakota State attempted to close the gap, particularly with key plays from Matthew Mors, who made a layup to bring the score to 69-63 in the second half. However, the Bison's Damari Wheeler-Thomas consistently contributed to the scoreboard, including a series of free throws that solidified their advantage.
Historically, North Dakota State has had the upper hand in their recent meetings, winning two of the last three encounters, including the previous matchup this season on January 15, where they won 76-65. The Jackrabbits managed a victory against the Bison last season, but this season's results have shown North Dakota State's dominance.
In terms of home and away performance, South Dakota State has a home record of 3-2 in their last five games, while North Dakota State boasts a perfect 6-0 away record in their last six games. This away success has been crucial for the Bison, contributing to their strong overall season performance.
As for injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams have had their share of challenges this season. The game was priced by DraftKings with North Dakota State favored by 1.5 points, indicating a close contest was anticipated. The total points line was set at 146.5, reflecting expectations for a competitive scoring environment.
The conditions during the game were typical for a mid-February evening, with both teams looking to capitalize on their strengths. Viewers were treated to a display of skill, particularly from North Dakota State's Damari Wheeler-Thomas, who played a pivotal role in sealing the victory with his free throw shooting in the closing moments of the game. This match not only highlights the competitive nature of the NCAAB but also sets the stage for the upcoming games as both teams look to finalize their seasons.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NDSU -1.5 | 146.5 o -112 / u -108 | North Dakota State Bison -122 · South Dakota State Jackrabbits +102 |
Leaders
- PointsDamon Wilkinson18South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- AssistsKalen Garry6South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- ReboundsDamon Wilkinson8South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- PointsDamari Wheeler-Thomas23North Dakota State Bison
- AssistsTrevian Carson4North Dakota State Bison
- ReboundsTrevian Carson12North Dakota State Bison
Recent form
South Dakota State Jackrabbits
Last 10: 4-6Streak W175.4 scored · 73.6 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W87-69at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesFeb 15
- L61-79at Denver PioneersFeb 13
- L67-68vs South Dakota CoyotesFeb 7
- L62-77vs St. Thomas TommiesFeb 5
- W95-72vs Oral Roberts Golden EaglesJan 31
- L71-80at Omaha MavericksJan 29
- L69-74at St. Thomas TommiesJan 23
- W90-62vs Kansas City RoosJan 17
- L65-76at North Dakota State BisonJan 15
- W87-79vs Denver PioneersJan 9
North Dakota State Bison
Last 10: 9-1Streak W282.2 scored · 72.6 allowed per game6-0 away
- W83-66at North Dakota Fighting HawksFeb 14
- W92-84vs Omaha MavericksFeb 7
- L71-78vs Denver PioneersFeb 6
- W89-84at South Dakota CoyotesJan 31
- W86-58at Oral Roberts Golden EaglesJan 24
- W82-77at Denver PioneersJan 23
- W68-65vs St. Thomas TommiesJan 17
- W76-65vs South Dakota State JackrabbitsJan 15
- W78-76at Omaha MavericksJan 10
- W97-73at Kansas City RoosJan 9
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota State | 27-8 | - | 14-2 |
| St. Thomas | 24-10 | 2 | 12-4 |
| North Dakota | 18-17 | 4 | 10-6 |
| South Dakota | 16-16 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Omaha | 16-17 | 6 | 8-8 |
| Denver | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| South Dakota State | 14-18 | 7 | 7-9 |
| Oral Roberts | 10-23 | 10 | 4-12 |
| Kansas City | 4-27 | 13 | 1-15 |
Box score
| Stat | North Dakota State Bison | South Dakota State Jackrabbits |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 25-52 | 25-56 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 6-21 | 8-26 |
| Three-point % | 29 | 31 |
| Free throws | 18-26 | 8-14 |
| Free throw % | 69 | 57 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 4 | 7 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 28 |
| Assists | 12 | 21 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Blocks | 1 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 6 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 7 |
| Points in the paint | 32 | 34 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 72 | 18 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half40-34Treyson Anderson makes 4-foot jumper (Damari Wheeler-Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half40-36Joe Sayler makes 7-foot jumper (Alec Squires assists)
- 2nd Half42-36Trevian Carson makes 3-foot jumper
- 2nd Half42-38Matthew Mors makes layup (Jaden Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half45-38Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes 24-foot three point jumper (Trevian Carson assists)
- 2nd Half45-41Jaden Jackson makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half45-44Jaden Jackson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Matthew Mors assists)
- 2nd Half48-44Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tay Smith assists)
- 2nd Half50-44Andy Stefonowicz makes layup
- 2nd Half50-46Alec Squires makes layup (Luke Haertle assists)
- 2nd Half50-47Matthew Mors makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-48Luke Haertle makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-49Luke Haertle makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-49Noah Feddersen makes 6-foot jumper
- 2nd Half52-51Damon Wilkinson makes 5-foot hook shot (Luke Haertle assists)
- 2nd Half54-51Markhi Strickland makes 2-foot dunk (Trevian Carson assists)
- 2nd Half56-51Markhi Strickland makes 16-foot jumper
- 2nd Half57-51Treyson Anderson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-51Treyson Anderson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-52Jaden Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-53Jaden Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-53Trevian Carson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-53Trevian Carson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-55Matthew Mors makes layup (Jaden Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half60-56Damon Wilkinson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-56Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes layup
- 2nd Half62-58Matthew Mors makes layup (Joe Sayler assists)
- 2nd Half64-58Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes layup
- 2nd Half65-58Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half67-58Andy Stefonowicz makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half67-61Matthew Mors makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jaden Jackson assists)
- 2nd Half68-61Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-61Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Matthew Mors makes layup (Kalen Garry assists)
- 2nd Half70-63Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-66Kalen Garry makes 23-foot three point jumper (Joe Sayler assists)
- 2nd Half71-66Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-66Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-66Damari Wheeler-Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours South Dakota State Jackrabbits, below favours North Dakota State Bison.
Venue
- First Bank & Trust ArenaBrookings, SD
- Attendance3619
- OfficialsBryan Anslinger, Mike O'Neill, Luke Schumer
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- North Dakota State Defeats South Dakota State 76-65Jan 14, 2026
- Bison Dominate Jackrabbits in Key MatchupOct 25, 2025