VALLEY CITY ND – Valley City State University men’s basketball took down Bellevue University 67-64 in the first round of the NSAA Men’s Basketball Postseason Tournament. With their victory, the Vikings move on to the semifinals where they will face the No. 1 seed Dickinson State University Blue Hawks.
 
Early in the first half the Vikings and Bruins played in physical battle of playoff basketball earning trips to the line making each possession feel important. Five minutes into the game, the score was 8-5 in favor of the Bruins. Bellevue then went on a 10-4 run growing their lead to nine with 11 minutes remaining in the half.
 
The Vikings clawed back to within five after a Sam Kobbervig three. Bellevue responded with going on another run growing their lead to 12 with the score of 32-20. Down the stretch the Vikings made it an eight-point game at half time after Kobbervig knocked down another three just before the half making the score 34-26.
 
At halftime the Vikings were led by Tyrel Creger with 10 points. He was followed by Kobbervig with six points. As a team, the Vikings shot 9/23 from the field, 4/7 from the three-point line, and 4-8 from the free throw line.
 
Bellevue was led by Emarr Vinson with 10 point, three rebounds, and two blocks and assists. The Bruins shot 12/24 from the field, 4/8 from the three-point line, and 6/6 from the free throw line.
 
Starting the second half the Vikings narrowed the gap to four with the score of 38-34 after a pair of made free throws from Jayden Patcha. A few moments later they were within one at 42-41 after a pair of Lamar Grayson free throws. With 10:13 remaining, the Vikings tied the game at 49-49 for the first time since early in the first half. Moments later they took the lead after another pair of Lamar Grayson free throws.
 
Down the stretch the Vikings grew their lead to five, but Bellevue battled back tying the game at 61-61 with 3:38 remaining. The Bruins took a lead of 64-61 with 2:31 remaining. Patcha once again earned a trip to the line hitting a couple of clutch free throws bringing the Vikings within one. Ladarious Stanfield made two free throws on the next VCSU possession taking a one-point lead. After a defensive stand, Creger made two free throws making it a three-point game with seven second remaining. The Vikings force a difficult fade away from Bellevue in the final seconds missing long taking the victory.
 
The Vikings were led by Tyrel Creger with 18 points, four rebounds, one steal, and one assist. Jayden Patcha tallied 12 points, two block and three rebounds. Lamar Grayson finished with 11 points, six assists, and two rebounds. The Vikings finished shooting 21-49, 7-12 from the three-point line and 18-24 from the free throw line.
 
Bellevue was led by Emarr Vinson and TJ Fritz with 15 and 14 points respectively. The Bruins shot 24-44, 6-13 from the three-point line, and 10-13 from the free throw line.
 
Coach Montgomery said, “We have really benefited off of play to our players strengths as of late.” In response to Saturday’s semifinal game against Dickinson State, Coach Montgomery said, “We just need to make sure we do all the little thing right against that basketball team.” Odier Olange said, “Every day we need to come committed, and come prepared” on team practice this week. “It could be our last game so play like it is.”
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings are off to Dickinson State University to take on the Blue Hawks in the semifinals of the NSAA Men’s Basketball Postseason Tournament on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. CT