Valley City State ended the game on a 13-2 run Wednesday night as the Viking men's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 67-58 victory over Dakota State.
Dakota State held a 56-54 lead with 4:21 remaining, but the No. 21-ranked Vikings clamped down on defense and scored the next 11 points en route to the NSAA conference victory.
Jayden Ferguson opened the decisive run with an 18-foot jumper from the left wing, and then the Vikings took the lead for good after Nygel Drury took an offensive rebound tip from LJ Booth and finished inside for a 58-56 lead with 3:30 to go. Two steals by Justyn Galloway and a long jumper by the junior helped keep the Vikings in control down the stretch.
Valley City State improves to 17-6 overall and 5-2 in NSAA play after the victory. It ends a two-game losing steak for the Vikings, which was their first losing streak of the season. Dakota State drops to 10-12 overall and 4-3 in NSAA play. The loss ends a four-game winning streak for the Trojans.
Four different Vikings scored in double figures, led by 15 points and five rebounds from Jayden Ferguson. Nygel Drury posted 13 points and six rebounds. Darryl Howell scored 11 points and Ellwood Ellenson added a season-high 10 points inside. Justyn Galloway led the Vikings with nine rebounds and three steals and added six points. LJ Booth had five blocks for the Vikings and scored eight points.
Kyle Kilgore poured in a game-high 19 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Dakota State's offense. Tanner Heiser made three 3's and finished with 10 points, and Brendon Boomsma scored 12 points for the Trojans.
Dakota State was hampered by 35 percent shooting in the game, including 28 percent in the second half. The Trojans finished 20-for-57 from the field and went 5-for-21 from 3-point range (24 percent).
Valley City State shot 50 percent overall (27-54), despite going just 2-for-11 from 3-point range (18 percent). Valley City State was 11-for-15 on free throws while the Trojans went 13-for-18 from the line.
The Vikings held a 40-26 rebounding advantage, including a 10-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Vikings finished with 13 assists, 20 turnovers, eight blocks and six steals. Dakota State finished with five assists, 15 turnovers, one block and nine steals.
Up next: Valley City State (17-6, 5-2 NSAA) travels to Dickinson State on Saturday. Dakota State (10-12, 4-3 NSAA) hosts Mayville State, also on Saturday.
