FOREST CITY, IOWA – The Valley City State men’s basketball team is off to their best start since the 2015-16 season with Saturday’s 78-71 win over Waldorf.
Valley City State is now 16-5 overall and 7-4 in the NSAA with just three conference games remaining. The 2015-16 squad posted a 16-5 record through their first 21 games and eventually won a first-round game at the NAIA National Tournament.
Waldorf falls to 5-14 overall and 4-7 in the conference.
Tate Hebrink had a career game Saturday, posting a career-high 21 points, four steals, and three assists off the Viking bench.
“Splits on the road are what’s needed in a conference race.” said head coach Ryan Montgomery. “Our men battled through a tough road trip and found a way to win today. Tate Hebrink was huge for us. He really carried us through tough patches throughout the game. We are proud of him.”
Kevin Schramm added 16 points and three assists, while Connor Enzi scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for VCSU.
Waldorf started out with an early 23-14 lead but a Chris Thompson layup and three-pointers from Jalen Addison (2) and Hebrink combined for an 11-0 run to take over the lead at 25-23. Waldorf answered with a three-point play from Quincy Minor Jr. but a basket from Schramm gave the Vikings the lead for good with just under six minutes to go in the first half.
Waldorf got within two points early in the second half when Valley City State took a 14-0 run capped by a jumper from Entzi to lead by 16 points and its largest lead of the game en route to the 78-71 victory.
Valley City State shot 49 percent from the field (27-55), 48 percent on three-pointers (11-23), and 62 percent from the free throw line (13-21). Waldorf shot 53 percent from the field (26-49), 40 percent on three-pointers (8-20), and 79 percent from the free throw line (11-14). VCSU also forced 21 Warrior turnovers.
Waldorf had three players in double figures, led by Quincy Minor Jr. with 23 points.
UP NEXT: Valley City State returns home on Friday to host Bellevue University. Women will tip at 5:30 p.m. and men will play at 7:30 p.m.