MITCHELL, S.D. – The country’s No. 7-ranked team was too much for the VCSU men’s basketball team to overcome Wednesday night as the Vikings dropped a 79-51 road contest at Dakota Wesleyan University.

The Vikings jumped out to small early leads, and took a 15-13 advantage on Connor Entzi‘s 3-pointer with 13 minutes remaining in the first half. From there, Dakota Wesleyan ripped off a game-changing 14-0 run, holding the Vikings scoreless for the next 7:30 and building a 27-15 advantage. VCSU could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Valley City State drops to 2-11 overall. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 10-2.

Kevin Schramm had a strong game with 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting, but as a team the Vikings struggled to find the basket – shooting 35 percent overall in the loss. Connor Entzi added 10 points and five rebounds, and Chris Thompson scored eight points off the bench.

Four different Tigers scored in double figures to lead a balanced attacked by Dakota Wesleyan, including 16 points from All-American Ty Hoglund.

VCSU shot 35 percent overall (20-57), 24 percent on 3’s (4-17) and 70 percent at the line (7-10). Dakota Wesleyan finished the game at 49 percent overall (30-61), 32 percent on 3’s (10-31) and 64 percent on free throws (9-14).

Up next: Valley City State is back home Wednesday, Dec. 18, hosting University of Maine at Fort Kent. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse. VCSU will not be charging admission to the game, but is instead asking fans to bring donations for the Barnes County Food Pantry.