VALLEY CITY ND – VCSU Viking Men’s Basketball team is off to a four win start after a home victory over the University of Minnesota Morris. Entering the night with a perfect 3-0 record the Vikings looked to stay undefeated. This is the first contest of the season for the Cougars who are now 0-1 on the year.
 
Minnesota opened the scoring with an early three to start the game. It was soon answered with a strong finish by Tyrel Creger. A few possessions later Odier Olange hit a three that gave the Vikings their first lead of the game making the score of 7-6. The Vikings and Cougars went back and forth in a strong defensive matchup.
 
With neither team finding a sizable advantage, the Vikings led 20-17 with 9:44 left in the half. At that time the Vikings had contributions from seven players, shooting 8/14 and 2/7 from the three-point line. Morris was 6/15 and 4/9 from the three-point line.
 
VCSU stretched their lead to 29-19 but was soon knocked down by a Morris three. The Cougars three started an 11-0 run, recapturing the lead at 30-29. Following a Valley City timeout Caden Grinde buried a three regaining the lead for VCSU. With 30 seconds left, Pal Dak nailed a three giving the Cougars a 35-34 lead going into halftime.
 
At halftime VCSU shot 13/25 from the field, 3/11 for threes, and 5/9 from the free throw line. They had four points off turnovers, 25 points in the paint and seven points off the bench. UMM shot 12/29 from the field, 8/17 for threes, and 3/3 from the free throw line. They had seven points off turnovers, 9 points in the paint and 18 points off the bench.
 
The Vikings opened the second half with a 13-0 scoring run, regaining the lead with a couple of twos from Tyrel Creger, and a strong finish and one from Lamar Grayson. Valley city held Morris scoreless for over seven minute to start the second half. Morris finally stopped the run with 12:44 left in the second courtesy of a James Huges three making the score 49-38.
 
The Vikings and Cougars went back in forth in the middle of the second half. The Viking lead never greater than 12 nor smaller than 6. With four minutes left the Vikings stretched the lead back out to ten with a score of 65-55. Morris tightened the score to 70-64, but the Vikings held strong and finished the game with a score of 72-66.
 
To close the night VCSU shot 26/53 from the field, 5/25 from the three-point line, and 15/22 from the free throw line. Found 55 of the 72 points in the paint, 14 off turnovers, and 15 points from the bench. They were led by Lamar Grayson who shot 6/9 good for 16 points along with three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Tyrel Creger tallied 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal.
 
The Cougars shot 25/57 from the field, 13/28 from the three-point line, and 3/5 from the free throw line. Found 21 of the 66 points in the paint, 12 off turnovers, and 29 points from the bench. They were led by James Hughes who scored 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one block.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings are looking to stay undefeated on the road this Saturday taking on Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D. at 5 p.m.