North Dakota State Edges Illinois State 82-81 in OT

Max Iversen's jump shot with two seconds left decided a tied game in Fargo.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a basketball player mid-jump-shot in solid green and white team colors against a warm-lit arena. — North Dakota State edged Illinois State 82-81 in overtime Friday in Fargo, with Max Iversen's jump shot two seconds from the buzzer deciding a 69-69 regulation tie. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

North Dakota State defeated Illinois State 82-81 in overtime on Friday night, November 13, 2026. The teams finished regulation tied 69-69 before Max Iversen hit the game-winning jump shot with two seconds left.

Why it matters

The win moves North Dakota State to 2-3 on the season, while Illinois State falls to 1-3. The narrow finish underscores how close the matchup was, with both teams trading the lead through a tied 31-31 halftime score.

Iversen led all scorers with 27 points and five rebounds, while Karl Markus Poom added 17 points and seven rebounds and Riley Massey hit 3 of 4 from three-point range for 11 points. Malik Moore paced Illinois State with 26 points, four assists and three steals, and the game remained tied 31-31 at halftime and 69-69 after regulation.

The players

Max Iversen

Max Iversen is a North Dakota State guard who scored 27 points and hit the game-winning jump shot in overtime.

Malik Moore

Malik Moore is an Illinois State guard who led his team with 26 points, four assists and three steals in the loss.

The details

Max Iversen hit a jump shot with two seconds left in overtime to give North Dakota State an 82-81 win over Illinois State. The result came after both teams battled to a 69-69 tie at the end of regulation.

Friday, November 13, 2026: North Dakota State defeats Illinois State 82-81 in overtime.

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Season Trajectory

Both programs are early in their seasons, with North Dakota State at 2-3 and Illinois State at 1-3 after this result. An overtime win at this stage carries more weight for building a record than for settling the season's direction.

The win lifts North Dakota State to 2-3, so each remaining close game will weigh heavily on whether the team climbs above .500. Fans tracking Iversen's production can see he is averaging a high scoring load for the Bison this early in the season.

The takeaway

Close early-season games can turn on a single possession, as Iversen's last-second shot showed. Tracking late-game execution is a useful way to read a team's season before the schedule toughens.