CARBONDALE, Ill.--Brock Jensen hit Matt Veldman with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 6:51 remaining to lift North Dakota State to a 9-3 victory against Southern Illinois in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game played before 9,059 at Saluki Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8.

It was North Dakota State's first win in Carbondale in four tries.

The scoring toss culminated a seven-play, 50-yard drive for the Bison (5-0, 2-0 Missouri Valley). Ryan Jastram missed the extra-point attempt. The game-winning drive was set up by the second interception of the game by cornerback Marcus Williams.

The Salukis (2-3, 1-2) had two possessions after the TD, one ending with a punt, the other on the first career interception by linebacker Chad Willson. Willson led NDSU with 10 tackles including a career-high nine solos.

Jensen was 13 of 23 for 150 yards with an interception for the Bison, who are off to their best start since winning their first 10 games in 2007. It was Jensen's first interception in 97 pass attempts dating back to the Eastern Washington game in 2010.

Southern Illinois outgained North Dakota State 297-210, but the Bison defense came up with big plays to keep the Salukis out of the end zone throughout the contest.

Williams intercepted two passes for NDSU. Williams has four on the season and eight in 19-game career. Willson had a big stop on fourth and goal from the one during Southern Illinois' first drive. Defensive tackle Leevon Perry, free safety John Pike, linebacker Carlton Littlejohn, strong safety Bobby Ollman, defensive end Cole Jirik and linebacker Preston Evans also came up with timely plays.

Jewel Hampton rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries for Southern Illinois.