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In the most dominating performance in a conference championship game of the 2020 college basketball postseason, the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison mollywhopped their in-state rival No. 6 North Dakota Fighting Hawks 89-53 to claim the Summit League championship on Tuesday night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
NDSU was +150 to win this tournament, but the surprising run by UND to get to the final gave ticket holders a heckuva sweat with their +8000 price if they could win just one more game and the Summit trophy. But as the scoreline indicates, it was never going to be close.
Vinnie Shahid led all scorers with 25 points on their 8/14 shooting. Tyson Ward was a star as well with 23 points and 13 rebounds, on his way to Summit League Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The Bison sit 136th in the NET standings, and should avoid the First Four in Dayton and head straight to the main draw of their fifth NCAA Tournament in 12 years. They have won one game in the main draw, a 12/5 upset of Oklahoma in 2014.
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