"Nightmare to match up with": Fans go wild as Jacari White outscores Butler alone in one half to pull off major upset
Basketball fans are raving about Jacari White’s stellar performance in North Dakota State's upset win over Butler. The Bison triumphed 71-68 against the Bulldogs on Tuesday.
The matchup largely felt like a four-player duel featuring White and Jacksen Moni for North Dakota State and Pierre Brooks II and Jahmyl Telfort for Butler.
Yet, White stole the show by racking up 27 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes, with 24 points coming in the first half. His performance was highlighted by an impressive shooting display, going 10-of-14 from the field and 7-of-9 from 3-point range.
Jacari White’s explosive first half saw him outscore Butler’s entire offense 24-23, helping NDSU build a 21-point lead. He opened the game with NDSU’s first nine points, all via 3-pointers assisted by Brennan Watkins.
In the second half, White cooled off, contributing just three points and two rebounds. This time, teammate Jacksen Moni stepped up, scoring eight of the Bison’s final nine points and making a crucial block on Jahmyl Telfort's layup attempt to seal the victory.
Fans on X (Twitter) were quick to commend White’s performance.
"Jacari White and Jacksen Moni are going to be a nightmare to match up with in March. Super fun duo to watch," tweeted @draftpoint2024.
“REMEMBER THE FACE AND NAME. JACARI WHITE,” declared @mid_madness.
“Jacksen Moni and Jacari White are going to be a PROBLEM in the Summit League this season. NDSU takes down Butler at the Hinkle Fieldhouse,” noted @Jmadden1632.
On Instagram, fans were equally vocal about White’s play.
“It’s always this guy,” commented @hunter_richardson2 on an NCAA March Madness post.
“This was an amazing game to watch - #gobisonmbb,” said Lori Gray Vipond on NDSU’s post.
“Bro who tf turned up their sliders 🫣,” joked @brycetherana on a CBB Content post.
With this win, North Dakota State improves to an 8-4 record, including 3-3 on the road.
The Bison will play their next two games at home, facing Wisconsin-Stout on Friday and Western Michigan on Sunday.
North Dakota State showcased exceptional shooting against Butler
NDSU earned its first win over a modern Big East team, delivering a stellar road performance. The Bison surged to a 44-23 halftime lead, extending it to 50-27 early in the second half.
Butler responded with a 34-12 run over 13 minutes, briefly taking a 67-62 lead with three minutes left.
Despite this, NDSU finished strong with a 9-1 run. Jacksen Moni scored eight points, including two 3-pointers and a clutch jumper with 19 seconds left, while also securing a critical rebound and blocking Telfort’s game-tying layup attempt.