Carlin Dupree’s layup with 4 seconds left lifted fifth-seeded North Dakota State — which trailed by as many at 18 — over No. 1 seed IPFW 69-68 in a Summit League tournament semifinal on Monday night.
The Bison (20-12) will face second-seeded South Dakota State (25-7), which beat No. 6 seed Denver in the other semifinal, in the title game on Tuesday.
Dupree, who quit the team in January unhappy with his role and returned two weeks later, led the Bison with 22 points. The drama wasn’t over after his go-ahead bucket though. He was fouled on the play and missed the free throw. IPFW gathered the loose ball but couldn’t get a last-second shot off.
Dupree’s bucket gave North Dakota State its only lead of the game.
Khy Kabellis had 19 for NDSU and A.J. Jacobson added 10.
Max Landis led IPFW (24-9) with 19 points. John Konchar added 17 and Michael Calder had 16.
