North Dakota State edges Denver in the quarterfinals

3/7/2020 12:00:00 AM

Press Conference: NDSU Head Coach David Richman | NDSU Players | Denver Head Coach Rodney Billups | Denver's Ade Murkey

The Basics
Score: No. 1 North Dakota State 71, No. 8 Denver 69
Records: North Dakota State (23-8), Denver (7-24)
Location: Denny Sanford PREMIER Center - Sioux Falls, S.D.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – It didn't look good at times for top-seeded and defending tournament champion North Dakota State, but a pair of Vinnie Shahid free throws with six seconds left provided the Bison with just enough to advance past No. 8 seed Denver, 71-69.

The Pioneers got a look in the final six seconds, but Jase Townsend's driving layup was off the mark, keeping the tournament from seeing its second straight first-round upset of a No. 1 seed after it didn't happen in the league's first 34 postseasons.

The teams traded baskets early, but it looked like NDSU might pull away after a Jaxon Knotek dunk midway through the first half. Knotek's slam fired up the Bison crowd and gave NDSU an 18-12 lead. It didn't last though, as the Pioneers scored the next four points.

It then looked like the Pioneers might make a run when DU freshman Robert Jones and-1 dunk at 7:13 mark tied the game at 20, but he missed the free throw and NDSU scored the next five points. Denver did get back to within one, but the Bison scored the final five points of the half to take a 36-30 lead into the locker room.

Vinnie Shahid buried a second-chance three-pointer four minutes into the second half to put the Bison up 44-36, their largest lead of the game to that point. After a stop at the other end, the all-league first-teamer hit a layup to push the lead to 46-36, which drew a timeout from the Denver bench.

NDSU was threatening to pull away again, but Denver's Jase Townsend went on a 7-0 run midway through the frame to tie the game at 49-all, part of a 16-3 stretch by Denver that ended with the Pioneers up 58-52 with 8:33 on the clock.

The Pioneers held onto that lead until a Shahid triple put the Bison up 67-65 with 1:22 on the clock. Denver tied the game twice after that, but could never regain the lead. Shahid got fouled on a drive with six seconds left and hit both foul shots to secure the win.

Shahid led all players in the game and three Bison in double figures with 22 points. Tyson Ward added 20 points and Sam Griesel collected 10 points to go along with a career-high 13 rebounds.

Jones led the Pioneers with a career-high 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the field, while Townsend scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half. The Pios lone senior, Ade Murkey, scored 17 and tied for game-high honors with a career-high 13 rebounds.

North Dakota State advances to play either No. 4 seed Oral Roberts or No. 5 seed Omaha on Monday at 6 p.m.

Turning Point
Vinnie Shahid's 3-pointer with 1:22 left gave the Bison their first lead in almost eight minutes, and even though Denver came back to tie the game, the Pioneers never led again.

Inside the Box Score

Sam Griesel and Ade Murkey both recorded double-doubles and both posted career-highs with 13 rebounds.
NDSU entered the game with a second-best team free throw percentage in the nation at 79.7%, but went well below its average in the game, 73% (19-for-26).
Denver finished with a 48-28 edge in points in the paint
NDSU went 8-for-22 from three-point range, while Denver finished 3-for-10, with all three makes coming in the second half.
The game saw three lead changes and eight ties

News & Notes

Saturday's game marks the 21st meeting between NDSU and Denver, with the Bison holding a 13-7 advantage.
The Bison won both tournament meetings with the Pioneers, winning 83-48 in the 2014 semifinals and 61-50 in the 2015 quarterfinals.
NDSU is 16-7 all-time in the tournament, with a 6-4 mark in the quarterfinals.
Denver is 3-5 all-time in the tournament, with a 3-2 record in the quarterfinals.
Ade Murkey's fourth double-double of the season also gives him four for his career.
Murkey topped his previous career-high of 11 rebounds, which he did three times, the last at South Dakota State Feb. 14, 2020.
Griesel's second double-double of the season also gives him two for his career.
Griesel topped his previous career-high of 11 rebounds, set vs. North Dakota on Jan. 19, 2019.
Both Griesel and Murkey came in with a career-high 11 rebounds and left with a career-high 13 rebounds.

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