Marshall, MN. – The Vikings Men's basketball team lost 81-101 to the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs. The loss would've made for the Vikings fourth in a row but, since the Mustangs are a division two team, the match was only an exhibition and will not count towards the Vikings record. The Vikings remain 2-3.
The Vikings started out the game good enough, scoring 7 of the first 12 points, but two 11-0 runs and a 12-4 run by the Mustangs would be enough to bury the Vikings into a 24 point deficit at the half. The second half would prove marginally better for the Vikings, they outscored the Mustangs 48-44,
Cire Mayfield would pick up 14 points on 6-11 shooting, and
Jared Milinkovich would record 3 steals, but the hole they started the half in would prove too much and the Vikings would go on to lose 81-101.
Despite the loss, the Vikings found areas to match the Mustangs in. One of which would be taking advantage of their 14-7 offensive rebounds lead and using them to outscore the Mustangs in second chance points 20-10. However, the Mustangs were able to capitalize off of 15 Viking turnovers and outpace the Vikings in points off of turnovers 23-20.
The Vikings were led by
Cire Mayfield with 21 points,
Jarred Merchant with 12 points, and
Jared Milinkovich had 6 points, 4 steals, and 8 rebounds.
Up next: The Vikings will come back home to play the first game of a two game home stretch against the St. Olaf College Ole's on Saturday, November 24th at 2:00 p.m.
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MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Dan DeWitt at 507-344-7856 or email ddewitt@blc.edu.