FARGO, N.D. -- The Idaho men's basketball team (1-6) had a strong second half but North Dakota State (4-2) proved to be too much as the Bison earned the victory, 90-73 on Saturday night at the Scheels Center.

Junior Trevante Anderson scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the Vandals. Anderson shot 3 of 6 from behind the arc and added a team-high six assists.

Freshman Tanner Christensen provided a presence in the paint for the Idaho offense, scoring a career-high 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting from the field. Christensen scored all six buckets in the second half.

The Vandal offense got off to a slow start to begin action, allowing the Bison to build an early 12-3 lead. NDSU carried their momentum throughout the remainder of the first half, leading 42-24 after 20 minutes of play.

Mikey Dixon scored 11 of the team's 24 points on 3 of 4 shooting from the field. Late in the first half, Dixon would be removed from the game after being charged for a flagrant two foul.

Idaho built an 8-0 run in the second half to cut their deficit to 13 points but North Dakota State continued to answer with timely baskets to end any kind of comeback, as the Bison would earn the victory, 90-73.

The Vandals shot 39 percent from the field while the Bison shot 52 percent with 60 points coming inside the paint to help earn the win.

Idaho returns to Moscow to kick off conference play when they welcome Southern Utah to ICCU Arena on Saturday, December 4. The game is set to tip-off at 2 p.m.