NDSU Men's Basketball Earns No. 14 Seed, To Face Michigan State in NCAA Tournament

The Bison will take on the Spartans in the first round of the East Region in Buffalo, New York.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:30am

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The North Dakota State men's basketball team has received a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball tournament's East Region and will face No. 3 seeded Michigan State in the first round. The Bison and Spartans will square off in Buffalo, New York on Thursday, with the game scheduled to tip off around 3:05 PM and be televised on TNT.

Why it matters

This marks NDSU's sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament, providing the Bison with another opportunity to make a deep run and potentially pull off an upset over a higher-seeded opponent. The matchup against Michigan State will be a tough challenge, but the Bison have proven they can compete with top programs in the past.

The details

NDSU is entering the NCAA Tournament after earning an automatic bid by winning the Summit League championship. The Bison will look to build on their previous tournament experience, having won two games in their five prior appearances. Michigan State, on the other hand, is a perennial powerhouse that earned an at-large bid to the tournament.

  • The NDSU vs Michigan State game is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2026.
  • Tip-off is approximately 3:05 PM Eastern Time.

The players

North Dakota State Bison

The men's basketball team from North Dakota State University, making their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance.

Michigan State Spartans

The men's basketball team from Michigan State University, a perennial powerhouse program that earned an at-large bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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What’s next

The winner of the NDSU vs Michigan State game will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament's East Region.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between the No. 14 seed Bison and the No. 3 seed Spartans provides NDSU with an opportunity to pull off a major upset and advance deeper into the NCAA Tournament, showcasing the program's growth and competitiveness on the national stage.