The Valley City State men's basketball team went 1-1 during its weekend trip to the Sam Milanovich Thanksgiving Classic in Dickinson, N.D.
 
Valley City State opened the two-day tournament with a 108-80 loss to a very good Rocky Mountain College team on Friday. The Vikings bounced back with a big 131-39 victory over Oak Hills Christian College on Saturday.
 
VCSU moves its record to 7-4 overall this season. The Vikings now have some time off before playing an exhibition game at Minot State on Dec. 6.
 
VCSU 131, Oak Hills Christian College 39
The Vikings scored a school record 131 points on Saturday as they closed out the tournament with a big win against Oak Hills Christian College.
 
VCSU put up 79 points in the first half, building a 79-19 lead at the break. The Vikings then coasted in the second half with all 13 active players scoring during the game.
 
The 131 points breaks the old school record of 128 points set back in 2015 against Oglala Lakota College.
 
On Saturday, sophomore Nick Carlson led the Vikings with 28 points and nine rebounds off the bench, shooting 10-for-14 from the field. He was one of 13 Vikings to score and one of five to reach double figures. Starting forward Odier Olange scored 16 points in just 10 minutes played, while Cleveland Bedgood had 10 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in just 13 minutes on the floor.
 
Ladarious Stanfield posted a double-double off the bench with 17 points and 12 rebounds – including six offensive rebounds. Lamar Grayson put up 14 points and was 6-for-6 on free throws. Brandon Macharia pulled down 11 rebounds and scored five points.
 
The Vikings shot 60 percent overall (50-84), 38 percent on 3's (11-29) and 80 percent at the free throw line. VCSU's defense had 15 steals and forced 28 turnovers. The Vikings also had a 62-24 rebounding advantage, which included 19 offensive rebounds.
 
Rocky Mountain 108, VCSU 80
The Vikings hung tight with a good Rocky Mountain team for the first 30 minutes Friday before the Bears pulled away in the second half.
 
VCSU led by as many as six points in the first half, taking a 17-11 lead six minutes into the game. Rocky Mountain battled back and took a 50-40 lead into the locker room. The Vikings and Bears essentially traded baskets throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half before a 10-0 run by Rocky Mountain put the game out of reach.
 
Valley City State dropped to 6-4 overall with the loss. With the win, Rocky Mountain improved to 5-1 overall this season with their only loss coming against No. 3-ranked Arizona Christian.
 
Four Vikings scored in double figures led by a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double by Hunter Lyman. Lamar Grayson scored 19 points off the bench while Caden Grinde (12 points) and Cayden Rickard (11) each reached double figures as well.
 
The Bears made 17 3's in the win and were led by 24 points from Maxim Stephens and 23 by Jesse Owens, which included four made 3's.
 
The Vikings shot 47 percent overall (30-64), 35 percent on 3's (7-20) and 72 percent at the line (13-18). Rocky Mountain finished the game at 53 percent overall (36-68), 50 percent on 3's (17-34) and 86 percent on free throws (19-22).