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CITY  (NewsDakota.com)–The Viking men’s basketball team saw their home floor for the first time in 35 days Saturday night, earning a 73-54 win over the Eagles of Northern New Mexico College at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City.

The victory pushed the Viking’s record to 15-5 overall, and was their 13th win in their last 15 contests, dating back to November 18th.  Valley City State is now 3-0 against Association of Independent Institutions (AII) members, and they swept a home-and-home series with the Eagles.

Sekani Milligan (Jr., Fort Lauderdale, FL) led the Vikings with 17 points.  His second three-point shot, coupled with a three by A.J. McDonald (Fr., Killeen, TX) sparked a Viking 20-6 run, pushing their lead to 59-37 early in the second half. 

McDonald and John Raquel (Jr., Hawthorne, CA) each added 10 points, with freshman Jason Perkins (Shakopee, MN) and Malcomb McDonald (Killeen, TX) each adding eight and continuing their progression in their first seasons at Valley City State.

The Eagles cut the Viking lead to 13 late in the game, but could get no closer.  Gabriel Martinez (So., Albuquerque, NM) and Orlando Echave (Fr., Santa Fe, NM) each scored 11 in the loss, a loss that drops their record to 1-20. 

Northern New Mexico has struggled with a horrific schedule.  The NAIA Division II team based in Espanola, NM, has played several NCAA Division I and Division II teams, as well as NAIA Division I’s.

The Vikings host Johnson and Wales of Denver, CO, Sunday at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse.   The date is a doubleheader, with women’s play at 2:00 p.m., and the men to follow.  The Viking men defeated Johnson and Wales 72-58 in Denver, and the women edged the Wildcats 78-76 December 17th.