VALLEY CITY – Both teams shot over 50 percent for the game, and John Evans led the Blue Hawks with 18 points and 8 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as Dickinson State (3-8, 0-1 NSAA) fell, 82-70, to Valley City State (6-5, 1-0 NSAA) to open North Star play.

Dickinson State took an early 9-7 lead on an Evans three-pointer just under five minutes into the game, as DSU controlled the game for much of the first half. The teams combined to go 29-59 from the field in in the half but were just 2-15 from long range. The Blue Hawks took their largest lead of the game 21-16 on an Evans two point basket, but VCSU took the lead back with a quick 8-0 run, going up 26-23 with 7:40 left in the half. Tyce Dahlberg gave the Blue Hawks the lead again 32-30 on a traditional three-point play with 2:18 left, but a 4-0 Viking run to end the half put VCSU in the lead at the break.

Both teams went back and forth in the second half, combining for 86 points in the second twenty minutes. Gus Wright scored the first seven Blue Hawk points after the break, but VCSU was able to extend their lead to 48-39 with 14:42 left in the game. The deficit stayed around ten points until a DC Stewart layup and two Evans free throws got DSU to within six, but that was as close as they would get as the Vikings had an answer to every Dickinson State basket to take the 82-70 victory to open NSAA play.

Four of the five Blue Hawk starters finished in double figures with Evans (18), Wright (15), Dahlberg (15), and Kose Egbule (11) leading the DSU offense. The Dickinson State bench was outscored 52-11, thanks in large part to Joseph Owens giving Valley City State a game-high 27 points off the bench. The Blue Hawks won the rebounding battle 34-29 but turned the ball over 19 times compared to just 13 for VCSU.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will head to Bismarck to take on NCAA Division II University of Mary in an exhibition contest on Tuesday, December 6.