Buzzer-beaters and bad luck bust Jacks

Saturday, February 13

Frost Arena

7:30 p.m.

South Dakota State University

North Dakota State

2/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

North Dakota State's Nate Zastrow hit a game-tying three-pointer as time expired in regulation. NDSU's Josh Vaughan hit one as time expired in the first overtime, but strangest play of the Bison's 90-85 double-overtime win over South Dakota State came with 23 seconds left in regulation.

The Jackrabbits, led 64-60 with 23 seconds on the clock when Zastrow went to the free throw line for two shots. He made the first shot for a 64-61 SDSU lead, but his second shot bounced out and got stuck between the rim and the backboard forcing a jump ball. The possession arrow pointed to the Bison, setting the stage for the first buzzer-beater of the night.

"You're not going to see that the rest of the year," said SDSU head coach Scott Nagy when asked about stuck ball after the game. "One time in all the games, I don't know if I have ever, ever, ever seen that."

Leading by two with 14 seconds left in the first overtime, SDSU's Tony Fiegen went to the line for two shots. He made his first to give the Jacks a 74-71 lead, but missed the second, giving the Bison a chance to tie the game, which they did on Vaughn's buzzer-beater, forcing the second overtime.

NDSU scored first in the second OT and never trailed again, sending 3,575 shocked Jackrabbit fans back into snow outside of Frost Arena.

"We had plenty of chances to win the game, so many strange things happened," Nagy said. "I was proud of our kids, the way they came back. I just told them after the game, I don't have anything to say to make it feel better. Life's tough. It just is."

The Jackrabbits fall to 13-12 with the loss, 9-5 in The Summit League. The Bison improve to 10-14 overall and an even 7-7 in league play with the win, which extends the Bison winning streak in the series to eight straight games dating back to Feb. 11, 2006, when the Jacks won 67-65 in Frost Arena.

Clint Sargent led the Jackrabbits with a season-high 24 points Garrett Callahan scored 11 points before fouling out late in the second half, Kai Williams and Nate Wolters both added 10 points in the loss. Wolters also finished the game with a career-high five steals and career-high three blocks.

Eric Carlson led the Bison with 24 points, Vaughan and Zastrow both finished with 20 points, a career-high for Zastrow.

Down by 29-21 at the half, the Jackrabbits battled back to take a 36-35 lead on a Callahan three-pointer with 13:29 to play in regulation. The Jacks boosted that lead to as many as seven points with 5:43 to play before the Bison came back to force overtime on Zastrow's buzzer-beater.

The Jackrabbits return to the road next week for games at league leader Oakland on Thursday and at IPFW on Saturday.

"Now we will really find out what we are made of," Nagy said. "This will be good for our team. I think we'll have a good week of practice and I think we'll be fine. We have good leadership, I won't have to say a lot and we will be ready to go. I think we'll play well at Oakland."