Final Score: North Dakota State 78, Louisiana 58

San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Mike Felt scored a game-high 18 points off the bench as the North Dakota State Bison captured a 78-58 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns as part of the Hilltop Challenge at War Memorial Gym.

Also scoring in double figures for the Bison (2-0) were Taylor Braun with 17 points, Lawrence Alexander 16 and Marshall Bjorklund with 13 points in the victory.

The Ragin' Cajuns (1-1) were paced by Elfrid Payton who delivered 13 points off the bench, while Darnell Jackson cleared a game-high 10 rebounds in a reserve role as well.

Louisiana led by three points in the first half, but the team managed to convert just 35.5 percent from the field and 1-of-6 behind the three-point line in the period, leading to a 38-33 deficit at the break.

In the second half North Dakota State pulled away thanks to 17-of-20 shooting at the free-throw line, compared to just 9-of-19 at the charity stripe for the Ragin' Cajuns.

Louisiana actually held a 40-28 edge on the glass, clearing 15 rebounds at the offensive end of the floor but that still wasn't enough to prevent the loss.

North Dakota State is off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2002.