VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – The Viking men’s basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with a tough loss Friday night, falling 69-68 to Brandon University (Manitoba).
Brandon’s Steven Chieng scored the game-winning basket with 1:19 remaining, breaking a 67-67 tie with his bucket inside. VCSU’s Connor Entzi was fouled with 48 seconds remaining and went 1-for-2 at the line to cut the deficit to 69-68. The Viking defense held on the other end to give VCSU a chance to win it, but Logan Nelson’s last-second 3-pointer from the corner was off the mark.
Valley City State drops to 0-1. Brandon University improves to 2-1 with the victory.
Brandon led by as many as 15 points late in the first half, taking a 36-21 advantage on Aaron Fernandes’ 3-pointer with 2:43 to go. The Vikings closed the half with a 10-2 run to cut the Brandon lead to 38-31 at the break.
VCSU senior Christian Kvilvang sparked the Vikings early in the second half with back-to-back 3’s. The Vikings hung tight and finally took their first lead of the second half on Connor Entzi’s three-point play inside which broke a 59-59 tie and put the Vikings up 62-59.
VCSU led 66-62 after Chris Morgan’s basket with 2:43 to go, but Brandon had the answer. Josh Bell hit a 3-pointer and then Kevone Philip scored inside with 1:42 remaining to tie the game at 67-67. Chieng then made his eventual game-winning basket, capping a late 7-1 run that was the difference down the stretch.
Kvilvang led the Vikings with 20 points, including a 4-for-8 performance from beyond the 3-point line. Morgan posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Entzi finished with 10 points and five boards.
Valley City State struggled at the free throw line, going just 15-for-29 overall and 10-for-19 in the second half. The Vikings shot 41 percent from the field (24-59) and 24 percent on 3’s (5-21).
Brandon University shot 34 percent overall (24-71), 26 percent on 3’s (8-31) and 57 percent at the line (13-23).
VCSU finished with 49 rebounds, 16 turnovers and seven assists. Brandon University had 38 rebounds, 12 turnovers and 10 assists.
Up next: Valley City State hosts Providence College (Canada) on Sunday as part of a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The women’s game begins at 2 p.m. with the men to follow at about 4 p.m.