DICKINSON, N.D. – The Valley City State men's basketball team has earned a first-round home playoff game and the No. 4 seed for the NSAA Postseason Tournament.
 
The Vikings dropped their regular season finale Thursday night at Dickinson State, struggling to make shots in an 86-56 loss. The Vikings still earned a home playoff game though as they finish the regular season fourth in the NSAA standings with an 8-6 conference record.
 
VCSU hosts No. 5 seed Bellevue University on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tip off is at 7 p.m. from VCSU's W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse. The winner of Tuesday's playoff game advances to the NSAA Final Four on Feb. 25-26 in Watertown, S.D.
 
VCSU century club, parent and employee passes will not be accepted at Tuesday's playoff game. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for K-12 student and senior citizens. VCSU students will be admitted free with their campus ID.
 
VCSU and Bellevue split their two meetings this season, with the Vikings winning at home on Feb. 10, 70-60. This will be the third straight year the programs have played each other in the playoffs. The teams have met in the NSAA semifinals each of the last two seasons.
 
The Vikings finished the regular season with a 15-13 overall record and an 8-6 mark in conference play after Thursday's loss at Dickinson. VCSU and Dickinson State have now split their two meetings this season. Dickinson State finishes the season at 13-14 overall and 9-5 in conference play. The Blue Hawks are the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament.
 
Valley City State shot just 33 percent in the road loss, going 21-for-63 overall. The Vikings were 4-for-18 on 3's (22 percent) and went 10-for-15 on free throws. Duoth Gach led the offense with 16 points on 7-for-16 shooting, and he also had five steals. Tate Hebrink added 11 points and four rebounds. Daevonte Munson and Cayden Rickard each scored eight.
 
The teams traded leads throughout much of the first half before Dickinson State opened up a 38-31 halftime lead. The Blue Hawks then pulled away in the second half, outscoring VCSU 48-25 over the final 20 minutes.
 
The Blue Hawks shot 50 percent overall (36-72) and went 10-for-27 on 3's. John Evans led the way with 28 points and six 3-pointers. Gus Wright added 18 points and four rebounds off the bench.
 
Up next: VCSU hosts Bellevue University for a quarterfinal playoff game on Tuesday, Feb. 21. Tip off is at 7 p.m. at VCSU's W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.