BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 21 points to lead North Dakota State to an 80-69 victory over Cal State Bakersfield in a nonconference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Icardo Center. The Bison led 40-30 at halftime and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. Markhi Strickland added 15 points for North Dakota State, which improved to 8-3. Andy Stefonowicz scored 13 and Treyson Anderson had 11. Ronald Jessamy led the Roadrunners with 18 points and four blocked shots. CJ Hardy contributed 13 points for Cal State Bakersfield, which fell to 4-7. North Dakota State covered as a 5.5-point favorite in front of an announced crowd of 223.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 21 points and North Dakota State used a dominant first-half defensive performance to set the tone in an 80-69 victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday night at Icardo Center. The Bison (8-3) never trailed, building a double-digit lead in the opening minutes and maintaining control throughout to hand the Roadrunners (4-7) their third consecutive loss. North Dakota State led 40-30 at halftime, holding Cal State Bakersfield to just 30 points on 34.5% shooting in the opening period. The most critical stretch of the game came early, as the Bison established their authority with a 14-2 run over a five-minute span in the first half. After Ronald Jessamy’s dunk gave the Roadrunners their first points, North Dakota State locked down defensively, forcing four turnovers and holding Cal State Bakersfield without a field goal for nearly four minutes. Markhi Strickland ignited the run with a jumper and a pair of free throws, followed by a tip-in layup. Noah Feddersen added a layup and, after a Cal State Bakersfield basket, Andy Stefonowicz drilled a three-pointer to cap the surge and give the Bison a 16-4 lead with 15:33 remaining in the half. That early cushion proved insurmountable for a Roadrunners squad that spent the rest of the night fighting uphill. Wheeler-Thomas, a 6-foot guard from Elgin, Illinois, was efficient in his 34 minutes, adding an assist. His backcourt mate, Andy Stefonowicz, provided crucial support with 13 points. The Bison’s balance was on full display as four players scored in double figures. Strickland, a 6-6 forward from Miami, contributed 15 points and a block, while Trevian Carson filled the stat sheet with 10 points, four assists, and three steals in 36 minutes of action. Cal State Bakersfield was led by Ronald Jessamy’s 18 points and four blocks. The 6-8 forward from Philadelphia was a persistent threat inside but received inconsistent support. CJ Hardy added 13 points and three assists, and Tom Mark chipped in eight points and two blocks off the bench. The Roadrunners showed more life after halftime, outscoring the Bison 39-40 in the second period, but could never seriously threaten the lead. Each time Cal State Bakersfield trimmed the deficit to single digits, North Dakota State answered. A three-pointer from Mike Price brought the Roadrunners within 62-55 with 4:50 to play, but Wheeler-Thomas and Stefonowicz combined for five quick points to push the lead back to 12 and effectively seal the game. North Dakota State’s defense was the story, generating 15 turnovers and converting them into 19 points. The Bison also controlled the interior, outscoring Cal State Bakersfield 40-28 in the paint and outrebounding them 41-35. The victory extends North Dakota State’s winning streak to three games as they continue a strong non-conference campaign. The Bison, who were installed as 5.5-point favorites, covered the spread, and the total score of 149 landed under the betting line of 147.5. Cal State Bakersfield falls to 1-6 against Division I opponents this season. North Dakota State travels to face Drake on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield returns to action at home against Pepperdine, also on Saturday.

Preview: North Dakota State Bison at Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging North Dakota State team visits a struggling Cal State Bakersfield squad in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Icardo Center. The Bison (7-3) have won four of their last five games, including a narrow 69-68 home victory over Northern Arizona last Saturday. They are led by guard Trevian Carson, who is averaging 14.0 points over his last three contests. Carson scored 19 points in 33 minutes against Northern Arizona. North Dakota State’s recent success has been built on the road, with wins at Montana and Jacksonville State in the past two weeks. Cal State Bakersfield (4-6) looks to halt a two-game skid after a 109-84 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. The Roadrunners have faced a challenging early schedule, with four of their six losses coming on the road against power-conference opponents like Mississippi and Florida State. Guard CJ Hardy provides offensive firepower for the Roadrunners. He is coming off a 23-point, five-assist performance against UC Santa Barbara and has scored 21 or more points in three games this season. The Roadrunners’ defense will be tested by a balanced Bison attack. In the win over Northern Arizona, Markhi Strickland added 16 points and Andy Stefonowicz dished out four assists alongside Carson’s 19 points. Cal State Bakersfield holds a 3-2 record at home this season, with victories over Western Illinois and Mississippi Valley State. North Dakota State is 2-2 in true road games. This is the first meeting between the programs since 2017. The Bison have won the last two matchups. For North Dakota State, this game begins a stretch of three contests in seven days. The Bison visit Drake on Saturday. Cal State Bakersfield continues a homestand, hosting Pepperdine on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST Thursday.