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N.D (NewsDakota.com) The Vikings mens basketball team was in Dickinson this weekend in the Sam Milanovich Classic, where they dropped both their games to Dickinson State and Rocky Mountain College.

Valley City opened play on Friday night against the host team. The Vikings and Blue Hawks battle back and forth all night trading leads 12 times in the game. In the final seconds, with Dickinson State holding onto a one point lead, the Vikings Aaron Duske would have the ball striped from him as he drove the lane. That would be the final possession for Valley City. As the ball left the hands of Duske, the Vikings fouled Jacob Volk sending him to the line for two shots. Along with a technical foul called against the Vikings coach, Jeff Kaminsky, the Blue Hawks would add three more points to the board earning a 67-63 victory.

Leading scorers in the game for Valley City were, Aaron Duske, Paxton Lloyd, and Jeff Romeus who all totaled 9 points. The Blue Hawks were led by Tevin Russell who scored 22 points. Mackenson Odenier went 9 of 10 from the free throw line with 15 points.

Valley City would not have time to sulk after their second close loss to Dickinson State in a week because on Saturday they met up with #17 Rocky Mountain College. The Battling Bears defense set the tempo of the game allowing the Vikings just 14 points in the first half. After the break, Vikings A.J. McDonald would reset the tempo for the Valley City earning 11 points in the final period of play. Despite outscoring Rocky Mountain 44-33 in the second half, the Vikings would drop their second game of the weekend by a score of 81-58.

McDonald and Romeus would tally a team high 15 points for the Vikings. The Bears would have three players finish the game with double digits; Joel Brandt (20), Malachi Roberts (18), and Tyree Anderson (10).

The two losses on the weekend drop Valley City to 1-7 on the season. They will travel to North Dakota State University on Monday, December 2nd for an exhibition with game with the Bison. The game can be heard on KQDJ Q101 FM.