YANKTON, S.D.(VCSUVikings.com) – Mount Marty’s Colby Johnson made the game-winning basket with 21 seconds left Saturday as the Valley City State men’s basketball team fell 70-67 in the final minute of a non-conference road game at Mount Marty College.

VCSU sophomore Logan Nelson made two free throws with 32.4 seconds left to give the Vikings a 67-66 lead over the Lancers. Johnson followed with a quick jumper from the right block on the other end to regain the lead for Mount Marty College. Valley City State had a chance to regain the lead, but Jake Skellywas called for a charge with 4.5 seconds to go. Mount Marty then sank two free throws for a 70-67 lead and Nelson’s half-court heave at the buzzer was off the back iron.

Valley City State drops to 3-9 overall. The Vikings enter NSAA conference play next weekend with road games at Waldorf University and Viterbo University. Mount Marty improves to 6-11.

The Vikings led by five late in the game, holding a 61-56 advantage after Connor Entzi’s jumper with 4:53 to go. Mount Marty would scored 10 straight points over the next three minutes to take a 66-61 advantage. The Vikings responded with six straight points, capped by Nelson’s go-ahead free throws with 32.4 seconds left.

Nelson finished with 17 points to lead three Vikings in double figures. Entzi scored 14 points off the bench, and Michael Cornelious had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Vikings made 12 3-pointers in the game, including three each by Nelson and Christian Kvilvang.

Valley City State shot 50 percent overall (23-46), 55 percent from 3-point range (12-22) and 60 percent at the line (9-15). Mount Marty College finished at 42 percent overall (28-67), 29 percent from 3-point range (7-24) and 54 percent on free throws (7-13).

Colby Johnson led Mount Marty College wth 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting. Jailen Billings and Saba Gvedashvili each had 11 points.

VCSU led by as many as eight points in the first half at 32-24. VCSU held a 32-30 advantage at halftime before a back-and-forth second half that featured nine lead changes and four ties.

Up next: Valley City State (3-9, 0-1 NSAA) resumes conference play Friday with a doubleheader at Waldorf University.