Jacari White has NDSU career-best scoring effort to spark Bison men to season-opening victory

FARGO — North Dakota State head coach David Richman liked what he saw from his team in the final 25-plus minutes Monday night at Scheels Center. After the University of Jamestown hung with the Bison for most of the first half, NDSU took over from there behind senior guard Jacari White. White poured in a career-high 22 points to spark a 96-59 victory in nonconference men's basketball before 1,219 fans at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

“Those 24, 25 minutes were terrific," Richman said of how his team closed out the game. “I think we can build off of that.” The game was the season-opener for the Bison, who had already played Minnesota State Moorhead in an exhibition game on Oct.



23. Monday's game counted as a exhibition game for the Jimmies, an NAIA program that is set to transition to NCAA Division II next school year. White's previous top scoring effort for the Bison was 19 points, which came against Jacksonville State during the 2022-2023 season.

“I was just feeling the energy of the crowd," said White, in his third season at NDSU. The Bison shot 57% (35- of 62) from the floor and 46% (13 of 28) from 3-point range to power past the Jimmies, who proved stingy in the early going. “I thought we came out a little slow, but we’ll pick it up and start to figure it out moving forward," said Bison guard Masen Miller.

The Bison started to create separation late in the first half, scoring 10 consecutive points. The 6-foot-3, White scored eight points during that surge, including two 3-pointers. White capped the run with a 3-pointer that gave NDSU a 37-27 lead with 3 minutes, 21 seconds to play in the first half.

“We’re just looking for ourselves to get better," White said. "It’s all about us getting better.” White scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the floor in the opening half, including three 3-pointers.

Jamestown started strong and matched baskets with the Bison for the first 14-plus minutes. The Jimmies tied the score at 27-27 after junior guard Anthony Walters sank a 3-pointer with 5:43 to play until halftime. Walters finished with a team-high 16 points.

Jamestown led by as many as four points earlier in the first half. The Bison shot 46% (6 of 13) from 3-point range in the opening 20 minutes. They led by as many as 13 points before halftime and that lead continued to grow throughout the final 20 minutes.

Masen Miller sparked the Bison early in the second half, sinking three 3-pointers in less than two minutes. That scoring spree fueled a 13-2 run for NDSU. Sophomore forward Noah Feddersen capped that rally with a dunk that gave the Bison a 56-37 lead with 16:07 to play in the second half.

“My teammates trusted me and found me," Miller said. The 6-foot-2 Miller, who went scoreless in the first half, scored 11 points in the first five minutes after halftime. The Bison played without senior forward Jacksen Moni, who was sidelined with an ankle injury.

Richman said that injury will be reevaluated ahead of NDSU's next game, which is Thursday against Illinois State at the SHAC. “There’s still a big picture perspective," Richman said. The Bison got solid play from two true freshmen against the Jimmies.

Forward Treyson Anderson had 10 points and nine rebounds, while point guard Andy Stefonowicz had five points and six assists. “We’re still learning," Richman said. "We’re still growing as a group.

It’s such a fun group.” UJ (0-1): Linas 1-2 1-2 3, Hektner 2-5 2-2 7, Bennion 3-9 2-2 8, Glasgow 1-5 0-0 2, Cordes 4-8 0-0 10, Walters 7-14 0-0 16, Stainbrook 1-2 0-0 2, Barr 2-5 2-2 7, Lyman 1-2 0-1 2, Woodford 1-3 0-0 2, Carroll 0-1 0-0 0, Grossman 0-0 0-0 0, Snell 0-0 0-0 0, Kolbeck 0-0 0-0 0, Wieker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 7-9 59.

NDSU (1-0): Burke 3-4 3-3 9, Feddersen 5-10 1-2 11, Watkins 1-3 0-0 2, White 8-11 1-2 22, M. Miller 4-8 0-0 11, Kasubke 1-2 1-2 4, Dissette 2-3 0-0 4, T. Miller 3-7 4-4 12, Anderson 4-7 2-5 10, Stefonowicz 2-4 0-0 5, Bath 2-3 1-2 5.

Totals 35-62 13-20 96. Half: NDSU 42, UJ 32. 3-point goals: UJ 6-19 (Hektner 1-3, Bennion 0-1, Cordes 2-6, Walters 2-4, Barr 1-3, Woodford 0-1, Carroll 0-1), NDSU 13-28 (Burke 0-1, Feddersen 0-2, Watkins 1-2, White 5-7, M.

Miller 3-5, Kasubke 1-2, T. Miller 2-6, Anderson 0-1, Stefonowicz 1-2). Total fouls: UJ 15, NDSU 9.

Rebounds: UJ 22 (Lyman 5), NDSU 42 (Anderson 9). Assists: UJ 6 (Linas 2), NDSU 19 (Stefonowicz 6). Turnovers: UJ 10, NDSU 5.

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