Sioux Falls, SD (VCSU) – VCSU’s mens bball team rallied from a 15 point 2nd half deficit Sat night, outscoring Dakota Wesleyan 33 – 11 over the final 9:30 enroute to an 84 – 77 victory at the NAIA Basketball Classic in Sioux Falls.

The Vikings trailed 66-51 with 9:35 remaining before completely turning the momentum. Back-to-back 3’s by Edmon Oyet and Duke Carey capped a 21-3 run that saw the Vikings completely erase the 66-51 deficit and take a 72-69 lead on Carey’s 3-pointer with 4 minutes remaining.

VCSU would lead the rest of the way and secured the victory at the Sanford Pentagon with six points in the final minute, including a basket inside by Joseph Owens and two free throws each by Hunter Lyman and Duoth Gach.

It is the third straight year that VCSU’s men have defeated Dakota Wesleyan at the NAIA Basketball Classic. Last year’s win came on a last-second shot, and this year’s victory was just about as dramatic. Through the first 30 minutes, Dakota Wesleyan seemed to have the immediate answer every time VCSU would start to mount some momentum. The Tigers led 44-34 at halftime and extended the lead to as many as 16 points at 61-45 in the second half.

Six different Vikings scored during VCSU’s 21-3 run that flipped the momentum and gave VCSU their first lead of the second half.

Duoth Gach poured in a game-high 28 points to lead VCSU’s offense. The senior guard knocked down three 3’s and shot 11-for-18 from the field. Sophomore post Joseph Owens had his best game as a Viking, shooting 8-for-11 and finishing with 21 points, five rebounds and three assists. Cayden Rickard had 12 points and and two steals, and senior Daevonte Munson finished with 11 points and team-highs of eight rebounds and four steals.

Valley City State shot 53 percent overall (33-62), 38 percent on 3’s (6-16) and 80 percent at the line (12-15). Dakota Wesleyan shot 48 percent overall (27-56), 39 percent on 3’s (14-36) and 60 percent on free throws (9-15).

VCSU held a 35-27 rebounding advantage, including an 11-7 edge in offensive rebounds. The Vikings held a 14-11 edge in turnovers.

VCSU is now 3-1 overall. Saturday’s game was the season opener for Dakota Wesleyan. Valley City State had defeated Dakota Wesleyan each of the past two years in one possession games at the Pentagon.

Up next: Valley City State faces Mount Marty University on Sunday at the Sanford Pentagon. The women tip at 12 p.m. and the men follow at 2 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (VCSU) – Three Vikings scored in double figures Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan as the Tigers used a big third quarter en route to a 65-52 victory at the NAIA Basketball Classic.

Adriana Torres posted a double-double to lead the Vikings with 13 points and 11 rebounds Saturday. Ashlyn Diemert posted a team-high 13 points while Katie Johnson posted 11 points off the Viking bench. VCSU falls to 2-1 on the season while Dakota Wesleyan opens the season at 1-0.

The Vikings held their own in the first half after shooting 42 percent (10-24) and grabbing seven steals over the first 20 minutes of play. VCSU erased an 8-point deficit to trail 30-27 at halftime.

Dakota Wesleyan then outscored the Vikings 21-9 in the third quarter – including going 9-for-10 on free throws – to expand its lead. The Vikings would get within seven points on a Katie Johnson 3-pointer late in the fouth quarter, but could get no closer down the stretch.

The Vikings tallied 13 steals as a team, led by Torres and Meredith Dumas who recorded three each. Madison Wilhelmi dished out a team-high three assists Saturday.

VCSU shot 35 percent from the field (18-52), 29 percent on 3-pointers (6-21) and 83 percent on free throws (10-12). Dakota Wesleyan shot 37 percent from the field (22-60), 18 percent on 3’s (2-11) and 79 percent on free throws (19-24).

The Tigers held the rebounding edge 38-35 and totaled 16 assists in the game. Dakota Wesleyan forced 21 Viking turnovers while only turning the ball over 13 times.

DWU’s Lacey Sprakel led all scorers with 15 points off the Tiger bench Saturday. Jada Campbell added 12 points and a team-best 10 rebounds, and Ryan Osthus chipped in nine points and five assists for the Tigers.

UP NEXT: VCSU plays Mount Marty on Sunday at the NAIA Basketball Classic. Tip is scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.