Box Score JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The Valley City State men's basketball team dropped a road contest at the University of Jamestown on Friday night, falling 81-71 as the Jimmies pulled away in the second half.
Jamestown made 3-pointers on three straight possessions late in the second half – part of an 18-2 run to take control of the game. The Vikings had a trimmed a 12-point deficit to just two points at 55-53 before the Jimmies ripped off their run and took a 73-55 lead with 6:40 to go. That stretch proved to be the difference in the game as the Vikings could get no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
Valley City State drops to 7-5 overall this season. Jamestown moves to 5-7 overall. The two teams will face off again Saturday, Dec. 30, in Valley City as part of a men's and women's doubleheader at VCSU's W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.
Cleveland Bedgood led the Vikings with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Lamar Grayson had 13 points and three assists, and
Jerome Washington was 3-for-3 on 3-pointers as he finished with 12 points and two steals.
Hunter Lyman posted a double-double inside with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
LaDarious Stanfield led the defense with four steals and scored nine points.
Valley City State shot 42 percent overall (27-64), 41 percent on 3's (7-17) and 71 percent at the free throw line (10-14). Jamestown finished the game at 46 percent overall (30-66), 36 percent on 3's (10-28) and 85 percent at the line (11-13).
Jamestown was led by 25 points and six assists from Silas Bennion, and a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double by Jimmy Llinas.
The teams traded baskets through the first 8 minutes as both teams struggled to build momentum early in the first half. Jamestown eventually built a 22-15 lead, prompting a VCSU timeout with 10:18 remaining in the first half. Out of the timeout, the Vikings went on a 13-0 run over the next three minutes.
Jerome Washington started the rally with a 3-point play and then
LaDarious Stanfield capped it with a 3-pointer that gave the Vikings a 28-22 advantage with 7 minutes to go.
The Jimmies would respond with their own scoring run, putting up the next six points and outscoring the Vikings 17-4 to finish the half. Jamestown took a 39-32 lead at the break – which included a 3 by Silas Bennion at the halftime buzzer.
Up next: Valley City State plays an exhibition game Monday, Dec. 18, at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. The Viking men play at 5:30 p.m. and the women follow at 7:30 p.m. on Monday.
