MITCHELL, S.D. – The Valley City State men's basketball team fell in overtime on Sunday evening, losing a tight road game at Dakota Wesleyan University.
The teams ended regulation tied 77-77, but Dakota Wesleyan scored the first 11 points in overtime as the Tigers defeated VCSU 88-79.
Valley City State drops to 3-2 overall this season and ends the weekend with a split after Saturday's win against Mount Marty. Dakota Wesleyan improves its record to 3-0.
The Vikings trailed 39-35 at halftime but would quickly tie the game at 42-42 in the second half on a fast-break dunk by
LaDarious Stanfield. From there, the teams traded leads for the rest of the second half and both teams had chances to win the game in regulation.
Trailing 77-71 with 2:45 to go, the Vikings rallied with a 3-point play by
Cleveland Bedgood and a layup by
Hunter Lyman to get back within 77-76.
Odier Olange was fouled with 1:15 remaining and made 1 out of 2 free throws to tie the game at 77-77. In the final minute of regulation, Dakota Wesleyan missed three shots while the Vikings missed two opportunities that could have won the game.
In overtime, Dakota Wesleyan made a 3-pointer on its first possession and then scored its final eight points on free throws en route to the 88-79 win.
Viking guard
Cleveland Bedgood had 23 points and four assists to lead five Vikings who scored double figures.
Hunter Lyman posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and
Odier Olange had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Off the bench,
LaDarious Stanfield had 15 points and seven rebounds, and
Lamar Grayson scored 11 points.
The Vikings shot 48 percent from the field (35-73), 23 percent on 3's (3-13) and went 6-for-9 on free throws. Dakota Wesleyan shot 43 percent overall (30-70), 29 percent on 3's (12-42) and 73 percent on free throws (16-22). VCSU turned it over 16 times and forced 11 turnovers by the Tigers.
Randy Rosenquist Jr. led the Tigers with a near triple-double, posting 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Up next: The Vikings (3-2) are back on the road Friday, Nov. 10, for a game at Briar Cliff University (4-0) in Sioux City, Iowa.
