North Dakota State, not to be confused with North Dakota, plays out of the Summit League. The Bison are 5-0 and have some interesting victories, having won at San Francisco, Louisiana-Lafayette and Northern Arizona in the Hilltop Challenge, Green Bay and Nebraska-Omaha.

They are 78th in the Nov. 24 Sagarin ratings, while Fresno State is 157th.
-
The Bulldogs are 3-0 against North Dakota State, winning the past two seasons at the Save Mart Center. Fresno State won 82-69 last year and 68-54 two years ago.
-
North Dakota State has 10 underclassmen on the roster - seven sophomores and three freshmen.

Though young, the Bison got a jump on the season by taking a NCAA approved once-in-four-years foreign tour in August, which included 10 valuable practice days. They played two games in Winnipeg, beating teams from Manitoba and Winnipeg, winning both handily.
-
Fresno State lost its past two games, to Manhattan and Texas-San Antonio in the NIT Season Tip Off, allowing 85 and 83 points.

The Bison can rack them up, too.

North Dakota State has hit 48.6 percent of its shots and 41.6 percent of its 3-point attempts. Four players are averaging 10.0 points or more, led by 6-foot-3 guard Mike Felt at 13.8.

The Bulldogs have hit 38.1 percent of their shots and 38.8 from behind the 3-point line. Two players are averaging 10.0 or more points per game, led by guard Kevin Olekaibe at 20.8.
-
The Bison have four returning starters and three of its top four scorers from a year ago back.
-