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CITY (NewsDakota.com) – The Viking women pulled away down the stretch, and the men had to hold on, but both ways worked for wins Saturday at the W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

Kelsey Hunter came off the bench to score 17 points as she led the VCSU women’s basketball team to an 81-59 victory over Dickinson State in the first of a doubleheader. In the evening finale, the Viking men let a 12-point lead all but slip away before weathering a game-winning shot attempt at the buzzer in a 63-61 win over the Blue Hawks.

VCSU’s women improve to 3-1 on the season. The men improve to 4-1.

VCSU’s men held a 57-45 lead with about five minutes remaining following Sekani Milligen’s sixth 3-pointer of the game. But Dickinson chipped away, took advantage of Viking free throw misses to get within two points at 63-61. AJ McDonald then missed two more free throws for VCSU, and Anthony Hodges had an open 3-pointer from the left corner, but it hit off the back iron as time expired and the Vikings held on.

Milligen finished with 22 points to lead all scorers, and was 6-for-12 from 3-point range. Aaron Duske scored 15 and Gus Kueber added 11 for the Vikings, who led 29-24 at halftime, and led by as many as 14 in the second half before Dickinson’s run.

Johnie Sanders scored 16 to lead Dickinson.

On the women’s side, VCSU jumped out to an early lead and was never really threatened by the Blue Hawks. VCSU led by 12, 38-26 at halftime, and then pulled away in the second half.

Hunter led all scorers with 17 points. Katelyn Ralston and Brittany Lehner both scored 12, and six different Vikings had six points each. Jess Bygate led Dickinson with 17 points.

Up next: The Viking men and women go on the road Friday and Saturday for a tournament at Dickinson State. VCSU plays Rocky Mountain College on Friday, and then rematches with Dickinson on Saturday.