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Friday
College Basketball
FOREST CITY, IOWA VCSU– An early-season hot streak continued Friday night for Valley City State men’s basketball team. The Vikings won their fifth straight game Friday, riding an aggressive full-court defense to an 87-74 victory over North Central University.
VCSU’s full-court pressure helped force 33 turnovers that led to 26 points in Friday’s victory at the Cobblesone Inn and Suites Classic, hosted by Waldorf University.
The Vikings improve to 5-1 overall this season. North Central drops to 1-1.
VCSU trailed 23-20 midway through the first half Friday before taking control of the game. The Vikings forced five turnovers over the next three minutes, fueling a 12-0 run that put the Vikings ahead for good at 32-23. VCSU did not trail the rest of the game.
“North Central did a good job of attacking out half-court defense, but our press saved us tonight,” said VCSU head coach Ryan Montgomery. “Forcing 33 turnovers will get wins when you don’t play as good as you are capable. We need to clean up our rebounding pursuit and overall situational play before conference starts. We will take the win and be happy with it because in a year like this, every positive is a plus.”
Six different Vikings scored in double figures, including 16 points by Connor Entzi who went 8-for-11 from the field. Eddie Oyet poured in 14 points, reaching double figures for the fourth straight game. Chris Thompson added 13 points, while Matthew Schlottman made three 3’s and finished with 11 points. Hunter Sand and Kevin Schramm both scored 10 points, and Joshua Kelly added nine.
The Vikings shot 50 percent from the field (37-74), 29 percent on 3’s (9-31)and 67 percent at the free throw line (4-6). North Central made 53 percent of its shots (26-49) and went 47 percent on 3’s (8-17) and 88 percent on free throws (14-16).
The Vikings forced 33 turnovers but turned it over just nine times in the game. VCSU finished with 18 steals and 17 assists.
North Central was led by 21 points from Seth Fuqua and 10 by Jonathan Thompson.
Up next: Valley City State continues the tournament Saturday in Forest City, Iowa, with a 1 p.m. game against Baptist Bible College.
Women
MADISON, S.D. –(VCSU) The Valley City State women’s basketball team opened its season with a 57-37 victory over Presentation College Friday night.
Macey Kvilvang‘s 17 points and nine rebounds paced the Vikings in its season opener at the Dakota Clash Classic. Adriana Torres added a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds Friday while Maara Nelson and junior transfer Emma Nielsen each added eight points.
Valley City State is now 1-0 this season. Presentation College falls to 1-8 overall. The Viking win comes after multiple games were canceled or postponed.
“I admire the heart that these young women played with considering the circumstances they have been through this past month,” said head coach Vanessa Johnson. “It wasn’t pretty, but they showed grit and determination and for that I couldn’t be prouder. It felt good to get back on the floor as a team and compete!”
The Vikings started out slow, scoring just eight points in the first quarter as Presentation led 14-8 at the break. Valley City State heated up in the second quarter, taking a 9-2 run capped by a three-pointer from Kvilvang to take over the lead at 17-16. The Vikings continued to expand their lead as they held a 25-21 advantage at halftime.
A three-pointer from Dani Schwanke opened the third quarter, leading to a 12-4 Viking run. The Saints began to inch closer, taking a 9-2 run of their own to get within five points at 39-34. The Vikings held the Saints to just three points in the fourth quarter though as they secured the season-opening victory 57-37.
Valley City State shot 39 percent from the field (22-56), 38 percent from the three-point line (6-16), and 58 percent on free throws (7-12). Presentation shot 25 percent from the field (15-60), 11 percent on three-pointers (2-18), and 50 percent on free throws (5-10). Valley City State also out rebounded the Saints, 47-38.
UP NEXT: Valley City State closes out play at the Dakota Clash Classic on Saturday with a game against Dakota State at 4 p.m.
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