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ARIZ. (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State’s starters combined to score 66 points Monday as the Viking men’s basketball team opened its Arizona trip with a 69-56 victory over Montana Tech.

Playing in the Cactus Classic in Phoenix, Ariz., VCSU had four players score in double figures and the Vikings picked up their 11th win of the season. VCSU is now 11-6 overall. Montana Tech – an NAIA Division I school from the Frontier Conference – drops to 6-6 overall.

Tied at 19-19 after 11 minutes of play, VCSU closed the first half with a 17-6 run to build a 36-25 lead at the break. Montana Tech crept back to within six at 48-42 midway through the second half, but the Vikings scored the next seven points to re-establish a double-digit lead en route to the victory.

Rashad Satahoo scored a game-high 17 points to lead four Vikings in double figures. Austin Dunbar posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Ferguson went 6-for-10 shooting as he had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Alex Quist knocked down four 3-pointers for the Vikings, including three in the first half, as he posted a career-high 13 points in the victory. Ellwood Ellenson added eight points, and Chase Carpenter had three points off the bench.

VCSU shot 44 percent overall (20-46), 50 percent on 3’s (7-14) and 76 percent at the line (22-29). Montana Tech finished at 39 percent from the field (24-62), 17 percent on 3’s (3-18) and 72 percent at the line (5-7). Chris O’Neill led Montana with 14 points.

The Vikings held a 37-34 edge in rebounding. VCSU forced 14 turnovers and committed just 12.

Up next: Valley City State (11-6, 3-2 NSAA) closes its trip to Arizona on Tuesday with a 2 p.m. game against Rocky Mountain (5-5, 0-2 Frontier).