By Brett Rump (@BrettRumpSports)

They say when you are making shots in basketball, you are a “hot” shooter. So it’s no surprise that with about three and a half minutes remaining in the game between the Fort Wayne Mastodons and North Dakota State Bison, the fire alarm finally sounded.

The Mastodons and Bison were both shooting over 50% on their three-point attempts, with the ‘Dons having a 80-77 lead after trailing by double-figures late in the first half and being down by seven at halftime.

Unfortunately, after a nine-minute stoppage in play, while alarms sounded and pre-recorded messages to fans to vacate the arena (which very few actually did), the only team to be “hot” was NDSU.

The Bison used a 12-3 run once play resumed to carry them to a 89-83 win.

Mo Evans scored 28 points and added 7 assists in the loss. It was the first time the Mastodons had lost back-to-back in the regular season since December, 2015.

The win puts NDSU in first place with a two-game advantage in the loss column over ever other conference team with a 5-1 league mark.

The Mastodons joined a pack of 6 teams with 3 conference losses (3-3).

The loss isn’t more than a road loss at a tough road opponent with a very good team. Again, a Mastodons opponent shoots much higher than their percentage, with Paul Miller scoring a career-high 33.

To contend to win the conference, pay less attention to standings and more on the records home and away. Win your home games and split on the road is usually enough to contend for a title. A win Saturday at South Dakota State would give Fort Wayne a 2-2 road record in their Summit League games.

Be sure to follow the Mastodons men’s basketball team on Twitter @FortWayneMBB.