Munson’s big second-half helps VCSU Vikings past Cougars
VALLEY CITY – Daevonte Munson scored 14 second-half points, including 10 in the final 9 minutes as the Valley City State men’s basketball team survived a challenge from a scrappy MinnesotaMorris team Wednesday night.
The Vikings outscored the Cougars 2213 over the final 9:45 on Wednesday, turning a 51-48 deficit into a 7064 Viking victory.
With the Vikings trailing 51-50, Munson converted a 3-point play with 8:27 remaining to give the Vikings the lead for good. Hunter Sand followed with a basket and then Munson knocked down a 3-pointer to put the Vikings up 58-53. Morris would trim the Viking lead to 62-61, but Munson scored a bucket with 1:19 remaining and VCSU pulled away for the 70-64 win.
Valley City State improves its record to 2-1 overall. The game was an exhibition contest for Minnesota-Morris – an NCAA Division III school.
Munson’s 16 total points, three assists and three steals were all team-high for the Vikings. Cayden Rickard added 15 points, and Tate Hebrink knocked down two 3’s en route to 12 points off the bench. Hunter Sand scored eight points off the bench, and Joseph Owens added six points inside – including a pair of thundering dunks in the final 3 minutes.
Valley City State shot 59 percent in the second half (17-29) and 50 percent for the game (27-54). The Vikings were 6-for-16 on 3’s (38 percent) and went 10for-14 on free throws. Minnesota-Morris shot 43 percent in the game (21-49), 41 percent on 3’s (11-27) and 65 percent at the line (11-17).
VCSU forced Morris into 30 turnovers but turned the ball over 19 times as well. The Vikings turned the ball over just 11 times total in their first two games of the season. Morris held a 36-24 rebounding advantage, including a 12-5 edge in offensive rebounds.
Pal Dak and Blake Munson each scored 15 points to lead the Cougars.
Up next: Valley City State will play Saturday and Sunday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. VCSU faces Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday at 8 p.m., and then plays Mount Marty on Sunday at 2 p.m.