Dakota State handed the Valley City State men's basketball team its first conference loss of the season Friday night, downing the Vikings 65-48 in Valley City.

The Trojans outscored the Vikings 36-24 in the second half, pulling away for the road victory and ending VCSU's six-game win streak. Leading 35-28 early in the second half, Dakota State used a 9-2 run to establish a double-digit lead at 44-30. The Vikings would get no closer than 11 the rest of the way and Dakota State coasted down the stretch.

Valley City State drops to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. Dakota State improves to 4-8 overall and is now 1-2 in the North Star Athletic Association.

The difference Friday night came in shooting as the Trojans sank 50 percent of their shots (26-52) while the Vikings went just 35 percent from the field (19-54).

Dakota State had four players score in double figures and were led by Tanner Heiser, who finished with 19 points and was 5-for-10 from 3-point range. Kevin Daniels posted 15 pints; Kyle Kilgore had 11 points and nine rebounds; and Justin Folkers posted 10 points and seven rebounds.

Austin Dunbar posted a double-double for VCSU with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Rashad Satahoo scored 15, and Ellwood Ellenson added 10 points and five rebounds.

VCSU shot 31 percent on 3's (5-16) and was 5-for-9 at the free throw line. Dakota State shot 44 percent from 3-point range (10-23) and went 3-for-6 at the free throw line.

The Trojans held a 34-27 advantage on the glass. VCSU had a 5-4 advantage in offense rebounds. VCSU committed 10 turnovers while Dakota State gave the ball away 13 times.

Up next: VCSU (9-5, 2-1 NSAA) hosts Bellevue University on Saturday at 8 p.m. Dakota State (4-8, 1-2 NSAA) travels to Dickinson State on Dec. 14.