VALLEY CITY, N.D. –  The Valley City State University men's basketball team lost in a close match thriller 66-61 to Dakota State University Saturday. Dakota State gained a small lead late in the second half, and VCSU was unable to answer. The Vikings move to 11-11 overall and 2-8 in the NSAA. The Trojans improve to 11-12 overall and 3-7 in the North Star.
 
VCSU opened up their scoring with a bucket made by Tyrel Creger. The two teams exchanged back and forth scoring plays throughout the first half. The leads switched on and off for both teams, and VCSU held the largest lead of eight points, 24-16, with eight minutes left to play.
 
Dakota State battled back, and it was a 3-pointer from Brayden Pankonen late in the first half that helped them tie the game back up, 33-33.
 
They then exchanged points within the final two minutes, but a quick jumpshot from Tyler Beckwith helped the Trojans take the lead going into the second half, 37-36.
 
Sam Kobbervig got things moving again for the Vikings with a swished 3-pointer to help them gain their first lead in the second half, 41-40. But the momentum didn't stop there for Kobbervig as another 3-pointer earned him his sixth point and a two-point VCSU lead, 44-42.
 
The Trojans were able to pull away from the Vikings with a quick burst and earn their largest lead of the game with seven points halfway through the second half, 51-44.
 
The Vikings answered quickly and put up eight points in five minutes to make a comeback of 59-55. Lead scorers in this run were Creger and Grinde.
 
The Trojans gained their momentum back and a last-minute shot from Dakota State's Lukas Morgan gained them the late lead 62-60 and they held on until the end and VCSU was unable to secure the home win, 66-61.
 
The Vikings finished the game shooting 39 percent from the field (22-57), 42 percent from the three-point line (10-24), and 64 percent from the free throw line (7-11). Creger led the team in scoring putting up 15 total points and 3 assists. Shaheed Muhammad finished with 12 points and two assists.
 
The Trojans finished the game with shooting 45 percent from the field (25-56), 33 percent from the three-point line (8-24), and 62 percent from the free throw line (8-13). Beckwith finished with 17 total points, and 10 rebounds. Pankonen finshed with 15 points and three rebounds.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings host the University of Jamestown on Feb. 7 Friday for another conference matchup.