VALLEY CITY - Survive and advance. This time of year it's all that matters.
It wasn't always pretty, but top-seeded Valley City State University held off a feisty Viterbo University squad Thursday night, hanging on to win 69-67 in the North Star Athletic Association men's tournament quarterfinals.
The No. 21-ranked Vikings appeared to be in control with a 65-51 lead and six minutes remaining, but Viterbo closed the game on a 16-4 run, pulling to within two points with 38 seconds remaining. The V-Hawks had a chance at the end, but Jake Bamke was called for an offensive foul on his 3-point attempt as time expired.
Valley City State (21-9, 8-5 NSAA) advances to the NSAA semifinals and will host rival University of Jamestown, Saturday at 3 p.m. The No. 4-seeded Jimmies knocked off No. 5 Dickinson State on Thursday, 93-74. Viterbo (13-17, 3-5 NSAA) has its season come to an end.
After trailing by as many as nine early in the first half, the V-Hawks fought back to within 52-48 after Pete Drummond sank a pair of free throws with 9:03 remaining. The next three minutes belonged to Valley City State as the Vikings ripped off a 13-3 run – getting seven points from Riley West and six from Ellwood Ellenson – to build a 65-51 lead.
Back-to-back 3's by Drummond and Bamke turned the momentum back to Viterbo, which used its 16-4 run to get back within 69-67 with 38 seconds left. VCSU's Jayden Ferguson missed a 3-point attempt on VCSU's possession, setting Viterbo up with a chance. After corralling the rebound Bamke raced up the court for a 3-point attempt, but Ellwood Ellenson drew the charge on Bamke's shot as time expired.
Ferguson poured in 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting to lead four Vikings in double figures. Justyn Galloway went 6-for-10 from the field, finishing with 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Riley West scored 13 points off the bench, including seven in VCSU's big second half run.
Darryl Howell added 10 points and three assists for the Vikings. Ellenson finished with eight points and four rebounds. Kevin Thomas gave the Vikings a spark off the bench with seven rebounds – including three offensive boards – and a pretty behind-the-back assist that brought the crowd to its feet early in the second half.
The Vikings shot 45 percent overall (27-61), just 14 percent from 3-point range (3-21) and 75 percent at the free throw line (12-16).
Viterbo finished the game at 46 percent shooting (22-48), 33 percent on 3's (6-18) and had a 17-for-18 night at the free throw line.
Bamke scored a game-high 25 points and had eight rebounds for the V-Hawks. He was 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Ethan Haberman added 17 points and six rebounds, and Pete Drummond knocked down three 3's to finish with 16 points.
Valley City State trailed 26-24 late in the first half, but the Vikings used a 10-2 run to take the lead for good at 34-28. Viterbo's Erik Engelstad hit a 3 in the final minute to cut VCSU's halftime lead to just three, 34-31, but the V-Hawks would not hold a lead in the second half.
In other quarterfinal action on Thursday, No. 7 seed Mayville State upset No. 2 seed Bellevue University by a score of 73-62. No. 3 seed Dakota State rolled to a 101-84 win over No. 6 seed Waldorf College.
Valley City State hosts Jamestown at 3 p.m. Saturday in one semifinal. Dakota State hosts Mayville State in the other semifinal on Saturday.
Up next: Valley City State (21-9 , 8-5 NSAA) will host rival University of Jamestown in the NSAA tournament semifinals, Saturday at 3 p.m. Viterbo (13-17, 3-5 NSAA) has its season come to an end.
