Box Score MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team followed the women's lead against Valley City State University and notched an 80-65 win in the season opener Tuesday night at Alex Nemzek Fieldhouse.

It didn't take long for the Dragons to take the lead as Alex Novak took a pass from DJ Hamilton to hit a jumper 10 seconds in.  The field goal sparked a 9-0 run that was capped off by Jordan Riewer's first three-pointer of the night.  On the next possession Novak denied Sekani Milligen of a jumper although the next shot for the Dragons would be a missed one.  Aaron Duske took a pass from John Raquel and hit a three-pointer at the 16:47 mark for the Vikings' first points of the night.  Hamilton answered for the Dragons, scoring the next two baskets to extend the lead to double-digits.

Sylvester Walker of VCSU put up a shot that would be no good, but he grabbed his own rebound and scored the points.  The second chance points made the score 15-9 in favor of the Dragons with 12:25 left in the first half.  Jake Driscoll hit a three followed by a Scott Kenny jumper to make the lead 11.

Milligen sank a three to cut the lead below double-digits. Another made shot from behind the arc cut the Dragons lead down to its lowest point since 18:08.  The two teams would exchange points until 29 seconds left when Novak closed out the scoring with a jumper and a free throw.  The halftime score would stand at 37-31 in favor of the home team.

Hamilton came out of the locker rooms shooting but missed the first shot of the second half.  Milligen took the rebound for the Vikings and assisted Duske on a three-pointer to cut the lead down to three points.  Free throws from Lindfors started a 7-0 run for the Dragons that was capped by a Hamilton three.  The Vikings answered the run with a three of their own three minutes into the half.

Lindfors knocked down back-to-back jumpers to give the Dragons their first double-digit lead since 9:33 in the first half.  Again the Vikings came back with a three-pointer shot by Jason Perkins.  The next possession gave the Dragons an opportunity for second-chance points but the home team could not capitalize on it.  Perkins took advantage of the Dragons' missed shots and hit a field goal to make the Dragons lead only 50-45. 

Over the next eight minutes, the Dragons built their biggest lead of the night by going on a 15-2.  The two teams again exchanged jumpers and free throws until 2:41 left in the game.  A missed jumper from Hamilton allowed Joe Bateman to cut the lead to 10.  The damage was too severe as the Dragons were able to score seven unanswered points capped by a Hamilton layup and free throw.  Free throws from the Vikings' Raquel wrapped up scoring for the game and set the final at 80-65.

Lindfors led all scorers with 22 points.  The junior also added nine rebounds in 30 minutes played.  Hamilton scored 19 points, four rebounds and three assists.  Novak scored 12 points, brought down eight rebounds and led all players with three blocked shots.  In 24 minutes off the bench, Driscoll scored 12 points while going three of three from the field including two three-pointers.  Reiwer led all Dragons with four assists. 

MSUM outrebounded VCSU 32-20.  The Dragons shot .610 (25-41) compared to the Vikings .404 (23-57).  The Dragons totaled more turnovers (15) than the Vikings (10) but the home team advantaged by outscoring their opponents in second-chance points, 19-7.  The Dragons held the lead for the entire game with the biggest lead of 18 coming with 6:05 left in the game. 

The Dragons continue home play Saturday as they look to take on Mayville State University (N.D.).

BOX SCORE