4 ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Sum mit ▁League ▁Tournament ▁and ▁a ▁bid ▁to ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁NCAA ▁Basketball ▁Tournament . ▁ ▁On ▁February ▁ 2 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁B ison ▁men ' s ▁basketball ▁team ▁captured ▁the ▁Sum mit ▁League ▁regular - season ▁championship , ▁the ▁school ' s ▁first ▁at ▁the ▁Division ▁I ▁level , ▁by ▁defe ating ▁Or al ▁Roberts ▁ 7 5 – 7 2 ▁in ▁Tul sa , ▁OK . ▁Two ▁weeks ▁later , ▁N DS U ▁earned ▁its ▁first ▁men ' s ▁basketball ▁NCAA ▁ber th ▁by ▁winning ▁the ▁Sum mit ▁League ▁Tournament ▁played ▁at ▁Si oux ▁F alls , ▁SD . ▁The ▁B ison ▁defeated ▁Cent en ary ▁ 8 3 – 7 7 ▁in ▁the ▁tour ney ▁quarter final s , ▁stopped ▁Southern ▁Ut ah ▁ 7 9 – 6 7 ▁in ▁the ▁semif inals , ▁and ▁ed ged ▁Oak land ▁ 6 6 – 6 4 ▁in ▁the ▁championship ▁game . ▁The ▁B ison ▁tra ve led ▁to ▁Min ne apolis ▁for ▁a ▁first - round ▁game ▁with ▁the ▁def ending ▁national ▁champions , ▁the ▁Kansas ▁Jay h aw ks , ▁and ▁fell ▁ 8 4 – 7 4 . ▁N DS U ' s ▁tournament ▁appearance ▁marked ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁almost ▁ 3 5 ▁years ▁that ▁a ▁Division ▁I ▁men ' s ▁program ▁qualified ▁for ▁the ▁tournament ▁in ▁its ▁first ▁season ▁of ▁el ig ibility . ▁▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁N DS U ▁season