Three teams, but first state vs. university rivalry game for Masen Miller

FARGO Its rivalry week for North Dakota State basketball and for the mens program, we turn to Masen Miller for proper context.

The senior, playing for his third college team, has seen his share of battles.

At Division II Truman State (Mo.) for his first two years, it was the University of Indianapolis or Missouri-St.

Louis.

At Indiana State for the next two seasons, the matchup of note was against Drake University, mainly because they were two of the top teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Ball State was another wanted team for Indiana State for no other reason than the Cardinals are in the same state.

An in-state rivalry type of deal, Miller said.

Rivalry games are always fun, its usually a good atmosphere but theyre just another game at the end of the day and we have to focus on getting better.

None of those rivalry games in Millers past, however, carry the state vs.

university tag.

That will change Saturday when the Bison host the University of North Dakota in a 4 p.m.

tipoff at Scheels Center at Sanford Health Athletic Complex.

Its the back end of a NDSU-UND doubleheader with the women playing at 1 p.m.

In a change from previous years, one ticket is good for both games, with NDSU making Saturday a different element to its separate mens and womens season ticket packages.

Its not the biggest game ever since its still mid-January, although at 4-2 in the Summit League, the Bison would do well to keep pace with St.

Thomas and Omaha, which are both 5-0 in the league.

The Fighting Hawks come in 2-4.

Miller left Indiana State after a highly successful Sycamores season that saw them go 32-7, reach the Missouri Valley tournament title game before falling to Drake.

In the transfer portal, Miller was part of a mass exodus of players including the head coach.

With our team breaking up, I just thought it was a good time with my grad year, he said.

Once I entered the portal, it just felt like home and it was the right decision.

NDSU contacted Miller when he was at Regina High School in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Bison made a run at him when he entered the portal out of Truman, with his main reason giving Division I basketball a shot.

He was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year at Truman, where he made 160 3-point shots in two seasons while shooting 44% from that distance.

Playing time wasnt so prevalent at Indiana State averaging 4.6 minutes two years ago and 7.6 minutes last season.

It still was enough last season to drain 15 of 37 from beyond the arc.

He found the right school for playing time and on-court contributions at NDSU.

Hes the teams third-leading scorer at 10.2 a game and leads the team in 3-pointers making 55 of 123 for a sparkling 45%.

Hes well on pace to getting into the top 10 in 3-pointers in a season in the Bison record book.

At his current rate, he could challenge Ross Manson for second place, with Manson making 85 in 1993-94.

Lawrence Alexander is the program leader with 104 in 2014-15.

What hes brought to NDSU besides a history of accuracy from the 3-point line are uncoachable elements that Bison head coach Dave Richman doesnt take for granted.

He often guards the oppositions best perimeter player.

Hes an elite shooter and I think that gets magnified, Richman said.

But the intangibles are more important to me.

Hes just been terrific because of his leadership, the pace that he plays with and the energy.

Energy shouldnt be in short supply on Saturday.

Its the state vs.

university, after all..

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