 In 2009 Phillips led the North Dakota State Bison to win the Summit League tournament championship and became the first team since Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana–Lafayette) in 1972 to advance to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in their first year of eligibility.On January 17, 2013; Saul Phillips notched his 100th win with the Bison.Phillips reached the NCAA tournament once again in 2014 after winning the Summit League tournament.