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CITY (VCSU) –  The Valley City State University men’s basketball team has finalized its 2015-16 schedule, head coach Jeff Kaminsky announced today. 

The Vikings will open the 2015-16 season on Friday, Oct. 24 with a home game against Oglala Lakota College. It is the first of four straight home games to open the season. Highlights of the schedule include 16 regular season home games and an exhibition game at Marquette University, an NCAA Division I school in the Big East Conference. 

The 2015-16 schedule includes 13 conference games this season as the North Star Athletic Association expands to nine teams. The Vikings will play all eight conference opponents at home this season, beginning Oct. 30 against conference newcomer Viterbo University. Other new conference teams are Bellevue University and Waldorf College. 

The schedule includes three contests against NCAA Division I schools as the Vikings will play at North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota, along with the much-anticipated matchup Nov. 9 at Marquette University. VCSU junior Ellwood Ellenson will square off that night against his two brothers, Henry and Wally, who both play for Marquette. 

VCSU will play in two-day tournaments at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Bellevue University and Johnson & Wales University (Colo.). The Vikings will also play a two-game road trip in Lancaster, Calif. 

Valley City State University finished 12-18 last season. The Vikings will feature new look this season, with an equal blend of new and returning players. 

The Vikings unofficially tipoff the season Oct. 17 with the annual Alumni Game at 6 p.m.