Jamestown (Vikings Sports)  – The Valley City State men’s basketball team cut a 24-point second-half deficit to single digits on Saturday, but was unable to complete a monumental comeback against its rival.

After trailing 68-44, the Vikings closed to within nine points with 2:20 remaining at the University of Jamestown. VCSU could get no closer though as the Jimmies were nearly perfect at the free throw line in the final two minutes to secure an 87-73 victory.

Valley City State drops to 3-8 overall this season. The Vikings will play another non-conference game Dec. 29 at Mount Marty (S.D.), and then enter their full conference schedule starting Jan. 4. The University of Jamestown is now 14-3 overall. The Jimmies are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll.

The Vikings played with the lead for most of the first 10 minutes Saturday. Back-to-back baskets by freshman Hunter Sand gave the Vikings their biggest lead of the first half at 21-16 with 11:03 on the clock. The Jimmies answered back with five straight points to tie the game, and then slowly began to build a lead. Leading 28-27, the Jimmies would outscore the Vikings 15-7 over the final 6:30 of the first half, taking a 43-34 lead into the locker room. Jamestown put together a 12-1 run to start the second half, building a 20-point lead to take control.

After Jamestown opened up their largest lead of the game at 68-44, the Vikings responded with nine straight points – capped by a 3-point play from Logan Nelson – to close the gap to 68-53 with 8:40 remaining. Jamestown’s Jack Talley stalled the Viking run with a 3-pointer, but VCSU kept battling. Nelson’s transition 3-pointer from the right wing cut the deficit to 75-62 with 5:24 to go. Christian Kvilvang hit a 3-pointer from the left wing and then Nelson nailed a 15-foot jumper just 20 seconds later as the Vikings closed to within 78-69 with 2:20 to go. The Vikings could get no closer though as Jamestown went 7-for-8 at the free throw line to ice the game.

Valley City State was led by 20 points from Nelson, 18 of which came in the second half. Sophomore point guard Jake Skelly knocked down three first-half 3-pointers as he finished with 13 points. Christivan Kvilvang scored nine and both Chris Morgan and Connor Entzi added eight points.

The Vikings shot 40 percent overall (29-72), 35 percent on 3’s (7-20) and 67 percent at the line (8-12). Valley City State was hampered by 18 turnovers, compared to just eight for the Jimmies. The Jimmies shot 45 percent from the field (33-73), 29 percent on 3’s (6-21) and 79 percent at the line (15-19).

Jamestown defeated the Vikings in a close game earlier this season in Valley City, 83-75. In that contest, the Jimmies found a way to win thanks to 32 points from Jon Purintun. The Jimmie senior guard was at it again Saturday in Jamestown, scoring 21 first-half points and a school-record 45 points in the game to lead the Jimmie offense. He made 16 of his first 21 shot attempts and finished his career day shooting 18-for-26 from the field.

Kevin Oberweiser added 14 points for Jamestown.

Up next: Valley City State is off until Saturday, Dec. 29, when they play a 4 p.m. road game at Mount Marty College (S.D.). NSAA conference play resumes Jan. 4-5 when they Vikings make a road trip to Waldorf University and Viterbo University.