MAYVILLE, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State men’s basketball team fell behind early and was never able to completely recover Saturday as the Vikings dropped a conference game at No. 24-ranked Mayville State University.
The Comets jumped out to an early 16-2 lead on their home floor and led from start to finish in an 88-76 victory. Valley City State battled back to within four points on three different occasions in the second half, but the Vikings were unable to overcome the Comets and complete the comeback.
Valley City State drops to 8-15 overall this season and 4-5 in the North Star Athletic Association. The Comets improve to 17-3 overall and 7-1 in conference play.
Coming off a double-overtime victory at Presentation College on Friday night, the Vikings started slow on Saturday. Mayville State scored the first six points of the game and opened up a 16-2 lead just 4:12 into the game. Trailing 31-17, the Vikings put together a 10-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to 31-27 with 6:57 left before halftime.
Mayville State extended the lead back to 54-42 at the halftime break. The Vikings cut their second-half deficit to 63-59, 69-65 and 73-69, but could get no closer down the stretch.
Viking junior Kevin Schramm scored a career-high 30 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Vikings on Saturday. Logan Nelson scored 16 points and dished out a team-high four assists. Chris Thompson added 10 points, and Jalen Addison made three 3-pointers for nine points off the bench.
Valley City State shot 46 percent overall (31-67), 47 percent on 3-pointers (9-19) and went 5-for-7 on free throws. Mayville State shot 49 percent from the field (32-65), 46 percent on 3’s (10-22) and 70 percent at the free throw line (14-20).
The Comets held a 46-27 rebounding advantage, including a 13-4 edge in offensive rebounds. Both teams totaled 16 assists. The Vikings committed just 10 turnovers and forced 13 by the Comets.
All five Mayville starters scored in double figures, led by five 3’s and 23 points from Latrelle Franklin. Jalen Valverde finished with 18 points and six assists, and Max Cooper had a double-double of 10 points and 18 rebounds.
With five conference games remaining, the Vikings are now tied with Viterbo University for fifth place in the NSAA standings. They are just one game back of Waldorf and Dickinson State, who are tied for third place at 5-4. The top four teams host an opening round playoff game. Mayville State and Bellevue University lead the conference standings at 7-1.
Up next: Valley City State returns home for a big weekend with games against Viterbo University on Friday and Waldorf University on Saturday.
(Photo courtesy VCSU Athletics)