VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com) – A defensive bout went the way of Dakota State on Friday night as the Trojans narrowly defeated the Valley City State men’s basketball team in an NSAA conference game, 61-59.
Valley City State junior Michael Cornelious scored on a floater in the lane with 51 seconds left to pull the Vikings within one point at 56-55. Dakota State’s Brady Elder answered with a clutch 3-pointer from the left wing with 30 seconds remaining, putting the Trojans ahead 59-55 before they held on in the final seconds.
The Vikings drop to 4-11 overall and 1-3 in the NSAA. Dakota State improves to 7-13 overall and 2-2 in the NSAA. Valley City State hosts Bellevue on Sunday, while Dakota State travels to Mayville State on Saturday.
Friday night’s game featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes, and neither team led by more than seven points. The teams played a dead-even first half, both making 11 field goals as they entered the locker room tied 27-27. VCSU junior Chris Morgan’s 3-pointer with 5:30 left in the game tied it at 49-49. Dakota State responded with a quick 5-0 run to open up the largest lead of the second half at 54-49.
Cornelious made two free throws with 2:51 to go that cut the deficit to 56-53, and neither team could find the basket over the next two minutes. Dakota State’s Cody Muilenburg twice blocked VCSU 3-point attempts before Cornelious drove the lane and scored his basket with 51 seconds left.
Elder responded with the clinching 3-pointer late in the shot clock. Logan Nelson twice cut the deficit to two points in the final 14 seconds, but the Vikings ran out of time in their comeback attempt.
Cornelious finished with a monster double-double to lead Valley City State, pouring in a game-high 19 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Nelson added 11 points and seven rebounds, while Jake Skelly scored six points, Christian Kvilvang put in five, and Chris Morgan added five points and five rebounds.
Valley City State shot 37 percent overall (22-59) and just 14 percent on 3’s (4-28). The Vikings were 11-for-13 on free throws. Dakota State shot 38 percent overall (21-56) but found the difference behind the 3-point line where they went 8-for-25 (32 percent). The Trojans were 11-for-17 on free throws.
Justin Folkers scored 16 points and had nine rebounds to lead Dakota State. Brady Van Holland hit three 3’s and scored 15 points, and Elder finished with 12 points for Dakota State.
The Vikings held a 40-29 rebounding advantage, including an 8-2 edge on the offensive glass. Valley City State had eight assists and nine turnovers, while Dakota State finished with eight assists and only five turnovers.
Up next: Valley City State hosts Bellevue University on Sunday for a women’s and men’s doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. Dakota State travels to Mayville State for a 3/5 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.