The Summit League conference season is half-over and it’s safe to say it’s a three-team race. North Dakota State and Oral Roberts sit atop the league at 8-1, with Oakland two games back at 6-3.

The Golden Grizzlies for all intents and purposes have to win Thursday night at North Dakota State to stay in the race. A loss would give Oakland four league losses and it can’t expect NDSU and Oral Roberts to each lose at least three out of their nine remaining games.

All three teams are undefeated at home. Oakland and North Dakota State each have five home games left, while Oral Roberts has four. Oakland and North Dakota State have four common games (at IUPUI, at Western Illinois, home Southern Utah, home UMKC). Oakland and Oral Roberts have none. North Dakota State and Oral Roberts one game (at Centenary).

A look at the first-half of league play
Oral Roberts lost at North Dakota State (an eight-point loss) and survived at home against Oakland in overtime. But the Golden Eagles have dominated the rest of the league, winning all seven games by at least nine points and by an average of 18.4 points.

North Dakota State has had several close calls. The first a three-point win at home against IUPUI, where the Bison trailed by six with 1:34 left. The second was a 65-60 win in overtime at UMKC and the third an 87-77 win at South Dakota State in overtime.

Oakland has two double-digit road losses, at Southern Utah and at Centenary. Neither game was close from the start and the Grizzlies, who average 76.9 points a game in league play, scored exactly 60 points in each loss.

Common games and results
At IPFW
Oakland win, 93-88 (+5)
North Dakota State win, 67-60 (+7)

IUPUI home
Oakland win, 75-57 (+18)
North Dakota State win, 55-52 (+3)

Western Illinois home
Oakland win, 86-46 (+40)
North Dakota State win, 81-64 (+17)

At Southern Utah
Oakland loss, 82-60 (-22)
North Dakota State win, 76-53 (+23)

At UMKC
Oakland win, 84-78 (+6)
North Dakota State win, 65-60, OT (+5)

Centenary home
North Dakota State win, 68-53 (+15)
Oral Roberts win, 82-59 (+23)

At South Dakota State
Oral Roberts win, 85-76 (+9)
North Dakota State win, 87-77, OT (+10)

Head-to-head
Oakland d. North Dakota State, 77-76
Oral Roberts d. Oakland, 68-65 (OT)
North Dakota State d. Oral Roberts, 83-75