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CITY (NewsDakota.com) – It was a rare split Saturday during a Valley City State basketball doubleheader at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

The Viking men’s basketball team improved to 8-0 at home this season with a 70-53 victory over Johnson and Wales. But in the women’s game, the Vikings suffered their first home loss of the season, falling 76-72 to Johnson and Wales.

The Wildcat women were on fire from 3-point range, going 16-for-31 from beyond the arc. The Vikings trailed by as many 14 points in the second half before rallying to within 74-72 after a banked 3-pointer by Katelyn Ralston. But with just 2 seconds left on the clock, VCSU ran out of time as Johnson and Wales iced it with two free throws.

Ralston led the Vikings with 18 points and was honored after the game for scoring her 1,000th career college point during the game. VCSU’s women fall to 14-3 overall. They’ll play for their third day in a row Sunday when they host Northern New Mexico at 2 p.m.

In the men’s game, Valley City State went up 35-20 at halftime and coasted in the second half to a 70-53 victory. Sekani Milligen scored 22 points and Aaron Duske added 11 for the Vikings, who improve to 14-4 this season. The win avenges an loss earlier this season to Johnson and Wales on the road.

Both the Viking men and women are in action Saturday and Sunday, Jan 19-20 during a tournament in Jamestown. They’ll take on Mayville State on Saturday at 1  and 3 p.m. And then will play either Jamestown College or Dakota State on Sunday. Pregame coverage Saturday begins at 12:45 p.m. on Dakota Country Radio and NewsDakota.com.