It all boiled down to the final match.    And provided a dramatic conclusion to an exciting wrestling tournament.    North Dakota State heavyweight Nick Severson pinned defending national champion Jon Madsen of South Dakota State in the finals to lift the Bison to the NCAA Division II team championship in 2001.    North Dakota State won individual titles in three of the final four weight classes to edge North Central Conference rival South Dakota State, 98.5-91, for the team title.    Expect another competitive battle for the top spot in Division II again this year.    North Dakota State - which returns Severson and two-time national champion Todd Fuller (174) - is poised to make another run at the championship.    The Bison also return All-Americans in Lucas Christianson (sixth at 133 pounds), Brian Kraemer (sixth at 197) and Grady Wolf (eighth at 165).    North Dakota State does have to replace three-time national champion Steve Saxlund at 184.    The Bison are seeking their third straight national championship and fourth in the past five years under legendary coach Bucky Maughan, who enters his 38th season in Fargo.    "I think we are going to have a good team again," said Maughan, whose team also won a national title in 1988. "It should be a very close battle. We return seven starters and we hope to be among the top three or four teams battling there at the end. We have been able to peak at the right time the last few years."    Madsen heads the list of returning wrestlers for South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits also return third-place finishers Aaron Veskrna (149) and Todd Paszek (184), and fourth-place finisher Tyler Bryant (165).    South Dakota State also brings back two-time All-American Tyler Jones, who redshirted last season. Jones is expected to be at 184 or 197.    The disappointing end to last season has provided added incentive for the Jackrabbits.    "I hope it does - I know our athletes have talked about it enough," SDSU coach Jason Liles said. "I think it gives us extra motivation. We have been second in the nation two out of the last four years. Last year was pretty disappointing because we fully anticipated to win that last match."    The North Central Conference went 1-2-3 at nationals last year as NCC school Nebraska-Omaha tied Central Oklahoma for third.    "Our conference tournament is a mini-national tournament," Liles said. "It's a pretty normal year again this season with Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State and us battling it out again."    "The North Central Conference will be the leader again this year," Maughan said. "I think the national champion will come out of our conference."    Central Oklahoma also will be strong. The Bronchos are led by returning national champion Cole Province, who won the 133 title as a freshman. Teammate Muhammed Lawal also returns after finishing second to Saxlund at 184.    Central Oklahoma's Mark Dodgen, a national champion in 2000, returns after finishing third at 125 last season. Dodgen was upset in the first round of last year's NCAA meet.    "I know Central Oklahoma has pumped up their roster," Maughan said. "They have some real good kids coming back, plus they have brought in some good transfers."    Perennial power Nebraska-Omaha also figures to be in the national championship picture again this year.    The Mavericks return five starters and three All-Americans - juniors Zach Stalder (174), Chad Wallace (197) and Roderick Ratcliff (141) - from the team that tied for third in the nation last season.    Stalder and Wallace both finished fourth in the nation last season while Ratcliff was seventh. Stalder is planning to move up one weight to 184.    "We have a good, solid mix with five starters back and some young kids who could really do well," Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Denney said. "I would say North Dakota State has to be the favorite - they are loaded. South Dakota State will also be tough and so will Central Oklahoma. I think we have a chance to be right in the thick of it.    "I think the power is definitely in the North Central Conference again. We finished 1-2-3 in the nation last year and it could end up the same way again this year."    Pittsburgh-Johnstown, 10th last season, returns four All-Americans in Shad Benton (third at 157), Brandon Newill (fourth at 125), Joe Lloyd (fifth at 149) and Howard Bell (eighth at 197).    Other returning champions in Division II include Adam Mars of Adams State (125) and Dave Vondy of Western State (165).    The Division II ranks lost one its strongest teams following last season. Southern Colorado, fifth in the 2001 NCAA meet, dropped its program.