LA CROSSE, WIS. (VCSUVikings.com)– Logan Nelson made four 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the second half Saturday, helping the Valley City State men’s basketball team open up a 27-point lead en route to a 69-55 victory at Viterbo University.
The Vikings made 14 3-pointers – including four each by Nelson and senior Christian Kvilvang – as they picked up their first conference victory of the season and handed Viterbo its first conference loss.
VCSU is now 4-10 overall and 1-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Viterbo drops to 9-8 overall and 2-1 in NSAA play. The win completed a doubleheader sweep for the Vikings after VCSU’s women defeated Viterbo 69-61 earlier in the day.
The Viking men sank eight 3-pointers in the first half, including three by Kvilvang, to open up a 37-18 advantage at the break. VCSU started the second half with Nelson’s 3-point barrage as he scored the first 12 points for the Vikings out of the locker room. His third 3-pointer gave VCSU its biggest lead of the night at 46-19 with 17:10 to go.
Viterbo chipped away and eventually cut the lead to 60-50 with five minutes remaining. But the Vikings held Viterbo to just five points in the final five minutes, securing the victory with their defensive effort down the stretch.
“Our guys played really well tonight,” said VCSU head coach Ryan Montgomery. “We did a good job of executing the game plan. We need to do a better job of sustaining leads, but that was a good win tonight and we’re excited to come back and play at home Friday.”
Nelson’s 18 points led all scorers in the game. Kvilvang was 4-for-6 from 3-point range and he finished with 14 points. Michael Cornelious also posted 14 points, going 8-for-10 at the free throw line. Jake Skelly added seven points and seven rebounds, and both Hunter McCalla and Connor Entzi hit two 3’s off the bench to finish with six points.
VCSU shot just 40 percent from the field (19-47) but was 44 percent on 3’s (14-32) and 81 percent at the line (17-21). The Vikings finished with 12 assists and eight turnovers. Six different Vikings made 3-pointers.
Viterbo finished the night shooting 36 percent overall (20-56), 17 percent on 3’s (3-18) and 71 percent at the line (12-17). Viterbo had nine assists and eight turnovers. The V-Hawks held a slight 37-33 advantage on the glass, including a 12-6 edge in offensive rebounds.
Jake Schroeckenthaler scored 15 points off the bench to lead Viterbo. Cade Anderson and Jason Tichy had 10 points each.
Up next: Valley City State (4-10, 1-2 NSAA) hosts Dakota State University on Friday, Jan. 11, for a women’s and men’s doubleheader at 5:30/7:30 p.m.