VALLEY CITY – The Valley City State men's basketball team couldn't keep up with a hot-shooting Viterbo team Saturday as the V-Hawks defeated the Vikings 89-66 in Valley City.

The V-Hawks had three players score at least 18 points in Saturday's game to outlast the Vikings. Viterbo couldn't be stopped in the first half, shooting 69 percent from the field and scoring 37 points in the paint to lead by 18 at halftime en route to the road victory. 

Valley City State falls to 14-10 on the season and 5-6 in the conference. Viterbo is now 13-11 overall and 7-4 in conference play. With Saturday's win, Viterbo moves into a tie for first place in the conference standings.

The Vikings started to pull back into it in the second half with 3-pointers from Chris Thompson, Duoth Gach and Hunter Sand. The Vikings would get within 12 points on Sand's layup from Gach with 10:52 to go, but could get no closer down the stretch.

Valley City State shot 39 percent from the field in Saturday's game (26-67), 20 percent on 3's (7-35) and 54 percent on free throws (7-13). Viterbo finished shooting 56 percent from the field (30-54), 47 percent from beyond the arc (8-17) and 81 percent from the free throw line (21-26). Viterbo also held the rebounding advantage, 46-26.

Valley City State forced 18 Viterbo turnovers while only turning the ball over eight times.

VCSU's Kevin Schramm totaled 17 points to lead the Vikings Saturday and Hunter Sand chipped in 13 points off the bench. Chris Thompson added eight points while Jalen Addison scored seven.

Viterbo's Brady Polk and Noah Frederickson scored 20 points apiece Saturday while Robert Cunitz added 18. Jack Monis added a double-double for the V-Hakws with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

UP NEXT: With just three conference games remaining, VCSU faces Bellevue on Friday at 5:30/7:30 p.m. for a conference doubleheader. Viterbo will host Mayville State on Friday night.