VALLEY CITY, ND (NewsDakota.com) While the women suffered through a rough offensive night, the Viking men snapped a six-game slide without their leading scorer.

Tyrel Creger scored 21 points and the Viking defense managed two stops in the final 17 seconds to hold on for a 67-66 win over Bellevue University at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse Friday night.

The Viking women were not as fortunate, shooting less than seven percent from the three-point line in a 60-50 loss to the Bruins, their second loss to Bellevue this year.

WOMEN: Bellevue 60, VCSU 50

A Viking team that had scored 91 and 84 points in their past two games simply could not coax shots to fall from anywhere in a 10-point loss.

The trend started early when the Vikings made an effort to get JayCee Richter active in the post.   A handful of good looks rattled but would not fall.

Ashlyn Diemert, who hit 11 three-point shots two weeks ago at the University of Jamestown, attempted just one in the game, eventually leading the Vikings in scoring with 10.

Abby Aslesen, the reigning NSAA Player of the Week with 26 points Mayville State last Friday, scored just six, adding eight rebounds.

The Vikings ended the night 32.3% from the field, 1-16, 6.3%, from the three-point line, in the loss.

Valley City State falls to 3-6 in league play

MEN:  VCSU 67, Bellevue 66

The Vikings were short leading scorer Lamar Grayson and needed an offensive burst from someone as a replacement.

Creger and Ladarious Stanfield delivered.

Creger his back-to-back three-point shots off the dribble, grabbing a four-point lead for the Vikings late in the second half, at 52-48, then connected again late to regain a Viking lead at 65-64.

Two late free throws by Shaheed Muhammad rebuilt the lead to three, but Bellevue cut the gap to one with 17 seconds left and put Muhammad back on the foul line.  Muhammad would miss, and the Bruins entered the front court in search of a road win.

A Bruin dribble drive saw the ball roll out of bounds, but the Vikings threw away the ensuing inbounds pass, and Bellevue got the ball back with 4.6 seconds left.  A Nigel Wilson fall away hit the rim three times and fell off, tipping the win for the Vikings.

Stanfield added 12 points and collected six rebounds while playing a post role for the Vikings, forced into the role due to Viking foul trouble.

The Viking men improve to 2-7 in league play.  Both the men and women face Dakota State tomorrow.