JAMESTOWN, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  An 18-2 run in the middle of the second half surged the Jimmies past the Vikings Friday night.

Jimmy Llinas blocked three shots and slammed four field goals in the stretch that blew a 55-53 Jimmie lead to 73-55, with the University of Jamestown eventually knocking off the Vikings 81-71 at Newman Arena in Jamestown.

Llinas finished with 22 points, with teammate Silas Bennion ending the night with a game-high 25.  Cleveland Bedgood led the Vikings with 23, with 16 coming after halftime.

The Jimmies led 22-15 in the opening half before the Vikings ran out to a 13-0 run, highlighted by a Jerome Washington three-point shot that pushed the Vikings to their biggest lead of the night at 28-22.  Washington finished with 12 points, one of four Vikings in double figures on the night.

Bennion hit a double-clutch three at the horn to push the Jimmies back to a seven-point edge at 39-32, and the Jimmies would take a 12-point edge early in the second half.

Valley City State again rallied, and cut the lead to 55-53, before Llinas took control of the post during the Jimmie 18-2 run that decided the game.

“We have to be tougher than that,” said Viking head coach Ryan Montgomery.  “We can’t have runs like that.  We talk about being tougher, and we know we need to be tougher.”

The Vikings fell to 7-5, and play an exhibition at the University of Mary Monday.  The Jimmies are now 5-7, and have won three straight.  They will face Mayville State Sunday at Newman Arena.