Jayden Ferguson scored 24 of his game-high 30 points in the second half Friday night as he helped lead the Valley City State men's basketball team to an 83-75 conference victory over Viterbo University.
Ferguson scored 16 straight points for VCSU at one point in the second half, turning a 41-40 VCSU lead into a 57-48 lead with 5:30 left in the game. VCSU led by as many as 12 points at 69-57, and Viterbo could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Valley City State improves to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the North Star Athletic Association. Viterbo University drops to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in the NSAA.
The game saw six ties and five lead changes in the first 30 minutes before Ferguson's run swung the game for good in VCSU's favor. He finished 11-for-17 from the field and led the Vikings with nine rebounds.
Darryl Howell dropped 14 points and four assists for the Vikings, and Nate Vieira added 10 points off the bench. Ellwood Ellenson and Justyn Galloway each scored eight points.
As a team, VCSU shot 51 percent overall (27-53) and 33 percent on 3's (5-15). After going 0-for-8 on free throws in the first half, the Vikings finished strong by going 24-for-27 in the second half.
Viterbo University shot 44 percent overall (24-55) and 39 percent on 3's (7-for-18). The V-Hawks finished 20-for-28 at the free throw line. Pete Drummond poured in 27 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Viterbo's offense. Jared Fleischmann added 15 points and Ethen Haberman chipped in nine.
Viterbo held a 29-27 halftime lead and led by as many as five points in the second half at 38-33.
Valley City State out-rebounded the V-Hawks, 37-29, including a slight 6-4 edge on the offensive glass. VCSU had 17 turnovers, 14 assists and nine steals. Viterbo had 20 turnovers, six assists and five steals.
Up next: Valley City State (2-0, 1-0 NSAA) hosts Northwestern College at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6. Viterbo University (0-1, 0-1 NSAA) plays at Mayville State on Saturday, Oct. 31.
