Five Vikings scored in double figures Saturday night as the Valley City State men's basketball team went on the road and defeated rival University of Jamestown, 79-71.

The Vikings used hot shooting to build a 22-point second half lead and then held off a Jimmie charge in the final minutes for the victory. VCSU improves to 12-8 overall and 4-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. It is VCSU's first road win at Jamestown since Feb. 1, 2012.

Jamestown drops to 8-10 overall and 4-2 in the NSAA. Valley City State, Jamestown and Dickinson State are now in a three-way tie for first place in the NSAA standings.

Valley City State went 11-for-18 (61 percent) from 3-point range Saturday, including a 4-for-5 night by Jason Ralph off the bench. Ralph, who had made just three 3-pointers all season, finished with a career-high 12 points in the victory.

Ralph's second 3 of the night gave the Vikings their biggest lead at 59-37 with 15:46 remaining. The Jimmies chipped away and pulled back to within 71-65 before Ralph made his final 3 of the night, putting the Vikings ahead 74-65 with 3:33 to go. The Jimmies closed to within five points with 45 seconds left, but Rashad Satahoo made a free throw and Ellwood Ellenson put the exclamation point on the game with a thunderous dunk.

Jayden Ferguson led the Viking offense with 24 points, including 18 in the first half. Austin Dunbar had his sixth double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. He also added five assists.

Rashad Satahoo knocked down three triples and finished with 14 points. Ellwood Ellenson posted 10 points and six rebounds, and Ralph finished with 12 points and six assists. Alex Quist added three assists and three points. VCSU posted 18 assists and just seven turnovers in the game.

The Vikings shot 56 percent in the first half (18-32) and 50 percent in the game (31-62). VCSU was 61 percent from 3-point range (11-18) and 67 percent at the line (6-9).

The teams were tied at 22-22 midway through the first half before the Vikings used a 15-2 run to build a 37-24 advantage. Valley City State took a 47-33 lead into halftime.

The Jimmies shot 41 percent from the field (28-69), 26 percent on 3's (7-27) and 73 percent at the line (8-11). Jamestown had four players score in double figures led by 18 points and six assists by Jake Hagler. Jacob Havron and Riely Henderson each had 16 points. Jamestown finished with 18 assists and just six turnovers.

Up next: The Vikings travel to Waldorf University for a conference doubleheader on Friday, Jan. 13.