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City, ND (VCSUvikings.com)- Jayden Ferguson scored a season-high 26 points but it wasn’t enough Monday night as the Valley City State men’s basketball team dropped a 72-65 decision to NCAA Division II school Minot State University.
VCSU trailed by as many as 13 in the second half before rallying to within five points at 67-62. The Vikings could get no closer though and the Beavers went 3-for-4 at the line in the final minute to ice the game and earn a road victory.
The Vikings drop to 1-2 overall this season. The game was an exhibition contest for Minot State, a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
After a slow start shooting the Vikings bounced back to finish at 42 percent overall from the field (22-53). VCSU went just 1-for-11 on 3’s and was 20-for-26 (77 percent) at the free throw line.
Minot State finished at 47 percent overall (28-60), 29 percent on 3’s (5-17) and 61 percent at the line (11-18).
The first half saw six ties and four lead changes before Minot State closed the half with a 7-2 run over the final 1:41, building a 32-27 lead at the break.
The Vikings were within 34-31 early in the second half, but Minot State used a 16-6 run to build its biggest lead of the game at 50-37 with 13:05 remaining. Trailing 67-55 with 4:14 to go, the Vikings mounted a 7-0 run as they pulled to within 67-62 with 2:18 to go.
Minot’s Stevan Jovanovic answered with a basket on Minot’s next possession as the Beavers held off the Viking run for a 72-65 victory.
Minot State won the rebound battle, 37-31, including a 9-5 edge on the offensive glass. VCSU committed 18 turnovers while Minot State committed 21.
Ferguson led all scorers with 26 points and added eight rebounds for the Vikings. Rashad Satahoo posted 18 points in the loss. Austin Dunbar and Ellwood Ellenson added six points each.
Minot State was led by 17 points and 10 rebounds from Tyler Rudolph. Trevor Rothstein poured in 15 points, and Nathan Mertens added 14.
Up next: Valley City State (1-2) hosts Silver Lake College on Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Vikings host University of Winnipeg at 6 p.m.