Vikings edge Bruins in defensive slugfest

VALLEY CITY, N.D. -- The Bruins and Vikings combined to shoot just 37% as Valley City State University defeated the Bellevue University men's basketball team 64-60 in North Star Athletic Association play on Saturday evening.

The Vikings pick up their first conference win to improve to 9-7 overall and 1-1 in league play. Bellevue falls to 6-13 on the year and 1-2 in conference action.

Valley City scored the first five points of the game before TJ Fritz came off the bench to knock down a deep three and get the Bruins on the board. Agwa Nywesh answered with a four-point play at the other end, giving the Vikings an early 9-3 lead before a BU timeout with 16:21 to play.

Bellevue continued to struggle offensively, with no one besides Fritz hitting on a field goal attempt until Makeem Loudermill hit a contested jumper with 8:48 to play. During that time, VCSU ran their lead to as many as seven points, 16-9.

The media timeout came after Emarr Vinson hit a free throw and was about to take a second at the 9:36 mark with the Vikings leading 16-11.

Despite starting just 3-for-18 from the floor, BU hung around until Christian Carter tied the game by hitting both ends of a one-and-one with 2:44 remaining in the half.

Vinson drew a foul on Valley City's Hunter Lyman, who entered the game as their leading rebounder and third-leading scorer. The foul, coming with 1:47 to play in the half, was his third of the game. Jerome Bynum gave the Bruins their first lead of the game on the next offensive possession with a driving layup after a pair of BU offensive rebounds.

Caden Grinde delivered a fast break layup in the waning moments of the half as Valley City took a 27-26 lead into the break. The Bruins shot just 25% in the first half but did collect 12 offensive rebounds and held a 27-21 advantage on the glass overall, as VCSU managed just a 27% effort from the floor at the other end. Fritz led the way with seven first-half points for BU, while Nywesh led all players with 11 in the first half.

Bellevue found some more flow early in the second half, hitting three of their first five field goal attempts to take a 34-31 lead.

The Bruins missed seven of their next eight shots as the Vikings used an 8-2 run to grab a 39-36 lead before Jaden Phillips sidestepped his way into a three-pointer from the wing to tie the game up. Following a Viking turnover, Carter banked home a three-pointer to put the Bruins back in front.

The lead went back and forth a few more times before VCSU gained a little separation. Lamar Grayson hit a contested jumper to give the Vikings a four-point lead, 53-49, with 5:11 to play. After a shot clock violation by Bellevue, Grayson drove the lane for a layup and a six-point lead.

Valley City worked the lead to seven points and looked to keep the Bruins at arm's length the rest of the way, but Phillips drove for a reverse layup to pull within three with just 48 seconds left. Bellevue got a defensive stop, but Phillips' three-point look missed and went out of bounds to Valley City.

Phillips scored all 18 of his points in the second half to lead the Bruins. He was joined in double figures by Fritz and Wilson with 11 and 10, respectively. Vinson and Phillips shared team-high honors with seven rebounds apiece.

Grayson paced a trio of Vikings in double figures with 16. Cleveland Bedgood added 14, and Nywesh tossed in 12.

The Bruins welcome Waldorf University to the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center on Friday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m. before tipping off against Viterbo University on Saturday, Jan. 20, at 5 p.m.