MAYVILLE, N.D. – The Comet men's basketball team hosted the Valley City State University Vikings on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Lewey Lee Fieldhouse. The two teams battled hard in a close, hard-fought, game but the Vikings ended up escaping with a 68-59 victory.

MSU came out firing and ready to go as they opened the game on a 7-0 run thanks to a basket by Alex Herman, Michael Lindsay, and three-pointer from Jonathon Butler. VCSU countered with a 10-2 run of their own and the two teams went back and forth for the rest of the half as they went into the locker room tied 32-32.

The Vikings took it to the Comets to start the second half as they went on a 16-3 to extend their lead up to 13 with 12:46 remaining. The Vikings maintained that lead for the next couple minutes and with eight minutes remaining in the game the Comets gave one final push to try and get back into the game.

Herman and Andrew Berge knocked in two huge three-pointers to help chip away at the lead. Easton Page knocked in two free throws with 2:53 remaining to bring the Comets back within five at 56-51.

Valley City did the one thing you have to do down the stretch to win on the road very well, made their free throws. The Vikings connected on 12-of-14 from the line in the final two minutes to keep their lead out of reach. They game ended with VCSU defeating the MSU 68-59.

Herman led the team in scoring with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting. Herman also grabbed four rebounds and had one assist in the game.

Page, Butler, and Olson each contributed nine points to the effort. Page led the team with six assists and was able to grab four rebounds as well.

Butler did a great job defensively with five blocks to lead all players. He also grabbed six rebounds and had one assists.

Olson was a co-leader in rebounds with seven, tied with Lindsay. Olson also led the team with three steals and picked up one block and one assist.

MSU out-rebounded the Vikings 36-27 in the game and had a slight advantage in shooting percentage (37.2 percent to 36.5 percent).

The Comets (6-12, 0-2) next action will be on Wednesday, January 29^th, 2014 in Madison, SD when they take on Dakota State University.