The Vikings capped off an exciting week of basketball with an 87-80 victory over 14^thranked Mount Mercy University.  Grand View (6-2, 1-0) hosted the Mustangs (8-2, 0-1) in a Midwest Collegiate Conference season opener on Saturday afternoon and behind a balanced offensive attack the Vikings proved to be too much. 

Senior forward Kevin Smith led the Vikings with 23 points and 10 rebounds, his second double-double of the young season.  Sophomore Kody Ingle and senior Josh Henry joined Smith in double figures, finishing the game with 21 and 16 points respectively.  Ingle also grabbed six rebounds, while Henry hauled down five rebounds of his own. 

For the second straight game, the Vikings received production from ten players.  Grand View had nine players score in the contest, as senior Phil Hunt scored seven off the bench.  Chad Malloy and Jordan Gentry chipped in five off the bench, while Allen Clark scored six points from his starting point guard position. 

The visiting Mustangs opened the game on an 11-4 lead only a few minutes into the contest.  Following a Viking time-out, Grand View was able to respond and take the lead mid-way through the opening half.  The Vikings led by as many as ten in the first half and took a 39-31 lead into the intermission.

The Mustangs Chad Underwood scored on the opening possession of the second half, but the Vikings were able to respond and keep Mount Mercy at arms distance the rest of the way.  Underwood finished with a game-high 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting. 

Following another Underwood three-pointer with 10:57 remaining, the Mustangs pulled to within three points.  However, the Vikings responded with a Henry lay-up and three-pointer to push the lead out eight points.  Henry then scored on another lay-up and knocked in one of two free throws to cap an 8-0 run for the Vikings. 

The Mustangs were able to cut into Grand View's lead, but were unable to get any closer than four late in the contest.  The Vikings capitalized at the free throw line late in the game, finishing the afternoon 25-34 from the charity stripe.

The Vikings will be back home again Wednesday as they host (RV) Clarke University at 7:30 p.m.