FARGO, N.D. - Despite putting up one of its best defensive efforts of the season, the IUPUI basketball team fell short to Summit League leader North Dakota State on Thursday night (Feb. 19), dropping a 57-48 decision to the Bison inside Scheels Arena. Junior Marcellus Barksdale scored a team-high 15 points in the loss and senior DavRon Williams finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Freshman D.J. McCall rounded out IUPUI's double-digit scorers with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. 

Senior Lawrence Alexander scored a game-high 17 points for the Bison and A.J. Jacobson added 16 as NDSU stretched its home winning streak to 24-in-a-row. NDSU swept the regular season series with the Jaguars, having already claimed a 69-61 overtime win in Indianapolis earlier this season. 

"I thought we were well prepared for this game," IUPUI Head Coach Jason Gardner said. "We defended fairly well, but we're still struggling to score the basketball. Whether it's getting easy looks or making the looks we get or turning it over, scoring doesn't come easily for us. We don't really have that go-to guy that can go get baskets when we need them. 

"I thought, for the most part, we executed and made some plays, but just not enough to beat a good basketball team on their home floor. Give them credit, they made the plays down the stretch when they needed them."

Both teams started slowly, although the Jaguars were able to build a 10-2 lead behind seven early points from Barksdale. NDSU (19-8, 11-3 Summit) started the game just 1-of-10 from the floor, but later used a 12-0 run to take a 17-13 lead late in the first half. The Jags recovered to tie the game at 22 all before Jacobson scored on a tip-in in the half's final possession, giving the hosts a 24-22 lead at the break. 

NDSU seemed primed to seize control of the game early in the second half as Jacobson opened with a triple and Kory Brown later scored on a layup, but the Jaguars hung tight. Similar to the game in Indianapolis, neither team could get separation as Barksdale pulled the Jags within two with 9:30 to play with a three-point play opportunity.

Even after he missed the ensuing foul shot, IUPUI had four chances to tie the game or take the lead, but came up with three missed jumpers and a key turnover. NDSU finally capitalized on IUPUI's slumbering offense, getting a drive from Alexander, followed by a steal and score from Carlin Dupree to go in front by six. 

IUPUI's last gasp came in the closing minutes as McCall cut the NDSU lead in half with a three-point play with 4:15 left, but the Bison countered with a Dupree runner and Alexander layup. Junior Mason Archie, II followed with a rare four-point play to get the Jags back within three with 1:47 left, but NDSU hit 9-of-10 free throws in the final 95 seconds to secure the win. 

NDSU hit 43.8 percent from the floor and just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) from three-point range, but IUPUI (9-18, 5-8) was even worse, closing at 39.6 percent overall. The Jaguars collected just five assists on 19 baskets, but managed to win the glass, 33-31. 

Alexander, Dupree and Jacobson led NDSU with five caroms each while Williams grabbed at least 10 boards for the fourth time this season en route to his second career double-double. Barksdale added seven defensive boards and a steal in defeat. 

IUPUI will cap the two-game road trip on Saturday (Feb. 21) when the Jaguars face South Dakota inside DakotaDome at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Will Flemming (pxp) will call the action on WNDE 1260 AM and the free iHeartRadio app with pregame coverage beginning at approximately 2:50 p.m..