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NEBRASKA, (VCSU) The Valley City State University men’s basketball team closed out its non-conference schedule Saturday with a 75-73 victory over Grace University in Omaha, Neb.

Jayden Ferguson led the Vikings with 17 points and eight rebounds, pacing six Vikings that scored eight or more points. Briton Bussman knocked down two 3’s and had 15 points, and Mac Kroeplin poured in 13 points off the bench for VCSU.

Ellwood Ellenson, Riley West and Austin Rambow had eight points each for the Vikings.

The Vikings led 36-30 at halftime. The teams traded leads late in the second half and after a 3-point play by Grace with 49 seconds left, the Vikings trailed 73-72. Riley West answered quickly for the Vikings, scoring a basket to put the Vikings up 74-73 with 41 seconds to do. A defensive stop, a free throw by Kroeplin, and a block by Ellenson in the final seconds sealed the victory for the Vikings.

VCSU shot 45 percent overall (25-56), 26 percent on 3’s (5-19) and 77 percent on free throws (20-26).

Hakeem Stewart scored 21 points to lead four Grace players in double figures. The Royals drop to 8-12 overall. Grace finished 46 percent from the field (25-54) and 54 percent on 3’s (7-13), but shot just 52 percent on free throws (16-31).

The Vikings close out their non-conference schedule with a 10-9 record. VCSU will open conference play Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the University of Jamestown.