VALLEY CITY N.D. - Valley City State University men's basketball falls 85-81 in a tight battle against the University of Jamestown.
 
The game opened with a fast pace quickly climbing to the score of 8-8. VCSU edge out the first sizable lead of 16-10 after a made three by Tyrel Creger. It was quickly matched by a Spencer Barr three on the ensuing possession. A few minutes later the Jimmies reclaimed the lead after a few defensive stands coupled with some good offense, making the score 21-18.
 
VCSU's Jerome Washington level the score at 23-23 with a three of his own a few possessions later. Moment's UJ went on a run of their own earning a 32-26 lead. There the Vikings went on a 12-0 run recapturing the lead and growing it to 38-32. The teams played neck and neck down the stretch of the first half finishing with Creger finishing a reverse layup with one second remaining.
 
With a score of 41-37 at the half, the Vikings shot 15-29 from the field, 3-6 from the three-point line and 8-11 from the free throw line. They earn 11 points off turnovers, 25 in the paint, and 11 points off the bench. They were led by Lamar Grayson and Tyrel Creger both earning 11 points in the half.
 
The Jimmies shot 15-32 from the field, 4-14 from the three-point line and 7-8 from the free throw line. They earn 2 points off turnovers, 21 in the paint, and 11 points off the bench. They were led by Silas Bennion who also had 11 points.
 
In the second the Jimmies quickly scored four and leveled the score at 41 each. There were seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the second half. With 9:44 remaining VCSU led 63-60.  The Jimmies narrowed that gap and tied the game 69-69. After a couple of Owen Heltner free throws, the Jimmies took a lead that they would hold for the remainder of the game. The Vikings fought hard down the stretch but came up short falling 85-81 to the Jimmies
 
In the end the Vikings shot 32-63 from the field, 7-19 from the three-point line, and 10-14 from the free throw line. Grayson finished the game with 23 points, three steals, and two assists. Creger had 21 points, two blocks, and two steals.
 
The Jimmies shot 30-63, 8-23 from the three-point line and 17-20 from the free throw line. They were led by Silas Bennion with 23 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Jimmy Llinas tallied 19 points and nine rebounds as well.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings take on Dickinson State University on Saturday Jan. 4 at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse for a men's and women's double header at 3/5 p.m.