From VCSU Athletics

FOREST CITY, IW (VCSUAthletics.com) – Connor Entzi‘s go-ahead basket with 1:58 remaining fueled a late 7-0 run Saturday night as the VCSU men’s basketball team picked up a much-needed victory at Waldorf University.

Trailing 64-63, Entzi put the Vikings ahead for good with his bucket inside. Chris Thompson followed with an old-fashioned 3-point play and the Vikings iced the game away with six free throws in the final 40 seconds of a 74-69 victory.

Valley City State improves to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play, snapping a three-game losing streak with Saturday’s road victory. Waldorf drops to 4-14 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

Waldorf held a 39-32 halftime lead Saturday, but the Vikings outscored the Warriors 42-30 in the second half. VCSU trailed 56-49 with 8:53 remaining, but proceeded to score the next nine points for their first lead of the second half at 58-56 with 6:33 remaining. Waldorf’s Lorenzo Smith gave Waldorf a 64-63 lead with his jumper at 2:17 to go, but it was all Vikings over the final two minutes.

Entzi led the Vikings with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists – all team highs. Chris Thompson scored 13 points and dished out three assists, and Joshua Kelly had 11 points and four rebounds. Uhana Ochan had nine points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench, and Kevin Schramm finished with seven points, five rebounds and two assists.

The Vikings turned the ball over just six times while forcing 11 turnovers in Saturday’s victory.

VCSU shot 41 percent overall (29-71), 17 percent on 3’s (3-18) and 72 percent at the line (13-18). Waldorf finished at 44 percent overall (27-62), 29 percent on 3’s (7-24) and 89 percent on free throws (8-9).

Up next: The Vikings return home for games against Mayville State and Presentation College next weekend, which will compete the first round of conference play and mark the halfway point of the NSAA schedule.