The Vikings men's basketball team used hot shooting in the first half to gain a 72-56 victory over Viterbo University in MCC action Saturday afternoon in Des Moines. Grand View came into the game tied for the league lead with Saint Ambrose and a half-game lead over Viterbo. After the games were played Saturday afternoon, the Vikings find themselves in first-place by themselves.
Grand View shot 67 percent from behind the arc in the first half and shot 50 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes. Defensively the Vikings held the V-Hawks to 26 percent shooting and only 21 first half points.
Viterbo's Eric Ambrose hit a jumper with 6:47 remaining in the first half to tie the score at 21-21. However, the Vikings then went on a 14-0 run to close out the half, including two three-point baskets from senior Greg Schulz and one from senior Matt Banzhaf.
The second half saw the Vikings build leads of 18 and 20 on multiple occasions, as the V-Hawks were never able to make much of a dent in the Vikings lead. Senior Bryant Kucera connected from three-point range, the only three-point basket of the second half for the Vikings. However, Grand View pounded the ball inside to sophomore Kevin Smith who led the Vikings in scoring in the second half with 10 points. Senior Joey Terpstra scored four second half points and gave the Vikings a lift defensively against Viterbo's inside players.
Smith scored in double figures, leading all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. Smith also grabbed five rebounds against the V-Hawks. Schulz was the only other Viking in double figures with 10 points, while Kucera and senior Grant Burns each finished with 9 points. Kucera was a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc on Saturday afternoon. Senior Corey Viet and Terpstra each had six points apiece. Banzhaf led the Vikings with 8 rebounds, while Viet grabbed six rebounds. Burns ended the afternoon with 11 assists, his third 11 assist game in as many games. Going into Saturday's game Burns was second in the country in total assists.
Grand View improves to 19-5 overall and 8-3 in the MCC. The Vikings travel to Forest City on Wednesday to take on Waldorf College (7-13, 3-7 MCC) in MCC play. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
