VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – The Valley City State men’s basketball team blistered the nets Friday night at the Bubble, shooting 63 percent en route to an 89-78 over Viterbo University.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw 18 lead changes, the Vikings were able to pull away from the V-Hawks with a 12-0 run midway through the second half. Five different Vikings scored in double figures as VCSU improved its record to 7-17 overall and 3-9 in the North Star Athletic Association. Viterbo University drops to 10-16 overall and 4-8 in the NSAA.
“I was really proud of our guys tonight,” said VCSU head coach Ryan Montgomery. “I didn’t have to call a single timeout and they ran our stuff almost to a ‘T’. To not call a timeout and win a conference game, that tells you something about how well our guys played tonight.”
Both offenses were on point to start the game as the Vikings and V-Hawks played to a 29-29 tie through the first 10 minutes. VCSU shot a scorching 73 percent through that stretch, but could not shake the V-Hawks who shot 61 percent through the first 10 minutes of play.
When the dust cleared on the first half, the Vikings held a 49-47 lead after six ties and 18 lead changes. VCSU finished the half shooting 62 percent overall (18-29) and 58 percent on 3’s (7-12), while the V-Hawks cooled down to 48 percent from the field (19-40).
Viterbo scored the opening basket of the second half to tie the game at 49-49, but the Vikings led the rest of the way. Clinging to a 62-60 lead with 11:30 remaining, the Vikings created some space with 12 straight points. Five straight from Hunter Sand started the 12-0 spurt, and Hunter McCalla capped it with a right-wing 3-pointer that put the Vikings up 74-60 with 6:18 to go. A 3-pointer by Logan Nelson gave the Vikings their largest lead of the game at 79-63 with 4:38 to go.
The V-Hawks would claw their way back with an 11-2 run, cutting the deficit to 81-74 on Jason Tichy’s free throws at the 2:33 mark. The V-Hawks could get no closer though and Nelson made four free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
Nelson poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the Vikings. The sophomore guard shot 8-for-13 overall and knocked down two 3-pointers. Sand, a freshman, continued his strong play down the stretch this season as he scored 14 points off the bench and pulled down four rebounds. Connor Entzi and Michael Cornelious each scored 12 points, and Jake Skelly went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc as he finished with 11 points.
Six different Vikings had two or more assists as VCSU finished with 15 assists and just nine turnovers.
“We talked about that all week, that we have to have assists,” said Montgomery. “We need to move the basketball, work with each other and find the open guy. Our guys really did that tonight.”
Jason Tichy scored 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting to lead Viterbo. Jake Schroeckenthaler came off the bench to score 23 points inside and pull down nine rebounds, including six offensive boards. Noah Fredrickson added 10 points for the V-Hawks.
Valley City State finished the game at 63 percent overall (32-51) and 50 percent on 3’s (10-20). Six different Vikings made 3-pointers in the game. VCSU shot 79 percent on free throws (15-19). Viterbo shot 46 percent from the field (30-66), 32 percent on 3’s (7-22), and 61 percent at the line (11-18).
Up next: Valley City State hosts Waldorf University for a conference doubleheader on Saturday at 3 and 5 p.m. Viterbo University travels to Mayville for a Saturday doubleheader, also at 3/5 p.m.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw 18 lead changes, the Vikings were able to pull away from the V-Hawks with a 12-0 run midway through the second half. Five different Vikings scored in double figures as VCSU improved its record to 7-17 overall and 3-9 in the North Star Athletic Association. Viterbo University drops to 10-16 overall and 4-8 in the NSAA.
“I was really proud of our guys tonight,” said VCSU head coach Ryan Montgomery. “I didn’t have to call a single timeout and they ran our stuff almost to a ‘T’. To not call a timeout and win a conference game, that tells you something about how well our guys played tonight.”
Both offenses were on point to start the game as the Vikings and V-Hawks played to a 29-29 tie through the first 10 minutes. VCSU shot a scorching 73 percent through that stretch, but could not shake the V-Hawks who shot 61 percent through the first 10 minutes of play.
When the dust cleared on the first half, the Vikings held a 49-47 lead after six ties and 18 lead changes. VCSU finished the half shooting 62 percent overall (18-29) and 58 percent on 3’s (7-12), while the V-Hawks cooled down to 48 percent from the field (19-40).
Viterbo scored the opening basket of the second half to tie the game at 49-49, but the Vikings led the rest of the way. Clinging to a 62-60 lead with 11:30 remaining, the Vikings created some space with 12 straight points. Five straight from Hunter Sand started the 12-0 spurt, and Hunter McCalla capped it with a right-wing 3-pointer that put the Vikings up 74-60 with 6:18 to go. A 3-pointer by Logan Nelson gave the Vikings their largest lead of the game at 79-63 with 4:38 to go.
The V-Hawks would claw their way back with an 11-2 run, cutting the deficit to 81-74 on Jason Tichy’s free throws at the 2:33 mark. The V-Hawks could get no closer though and Nelson made four free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
Nelson poured in a game-high 26 points to lead the Vikings. The sophomore guard shot 8-for-13 overall and knocked down two 3-pointers. Sand, a freshman, continued his strong play down the stretch this season as he scored 14 points off the bench and pulled down four rebounds. Connor Entzi and Michael Cornelious each scored 12 points, and Jake Skelly went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc as he finished with 11 points.
Six different Vikings had two or more assists as VCSU finished with 15 assists and just nine turnovers.
“We talked about that all week, that we have to have assists,” said Montgomery. “We need to move the basketball, work with each other and find the open guy. Our guys really did that tonight.”
Jason Tichy scored 24 points on 9-for-14 shooting to lead Viterbo. Jake Schroeckenthaler came off the bench to score 23 points inside and pull down nine rebounds, including six offensive boards. Noah Fredrickson added 10 points for the V-Hawks.
Valley City State finished the game at 63 percent overall (32-51) and 50 percent on 3’s (10-20). Six different Vikings made 3-pointers in the game. VCSU shot 79 percent on free throws (15-19). Viterbo shot 46 percent from the field (30-66), 32 percent on 3’s (7-22), and 61 percent at the line (11-18).
Up next: Valley City State hosts Waldorf University for a conference doubleheader on Saturday at 3 and 5 p.m. Viterbo University travels to Mayville for a Saturday doubleheader, also at 3/5 p.m.