MOORHEAD, Minn. — A competitive back-and-forth contest came down to late free throws as Valley City State held off Mayville State, 78–72, in men's basketball action Friday afternoon.

Mayville State kept pace early despite a fast start by the Vikings, trailing 41–31 at halftime. Christian Bowen-Webb helped steady the Comets with perimeter shooting in the opening half, while Isaiah Smith attacked the paint to keep MSU within reach.

The Comets came out strong after the break, outscoring VCSU 41–37 in the second half and briefly taking the lead during a strong mid-half stretch. Smith sparked the run with consecutive baskets and free throws, and Mayville State leaned on its interior scoring to cut into the deficit and force a tightly contested final stretch.

Valley City State responded down the stretch by converting at the free-throw line, going 16-of-18 from the stripe in the second half to maintain control late. The Vikings knocked down key shots and sealed the game in the final minute.

Bowen-Webb led Mayville State with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Smith finished with 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals. Jackson Anderson and Malik Siggers each added nine points off the bench, providing a boost in the second half.

Mayville State shot 42.9 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, while winning the bench scoring battle 30–19. The Comets forced 17 turnovers and scored 19 points off those opportunities but were unable to overcome Valley City State's advantage at the free-throw line.

The Comets will host Bellevue University on Friday, January 30th at 7pm and Dakota State on Saturday, January 31st at 7pm. For full schedule details visit: https://msucomets.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule