Jimmies remain unbeaten with win at VCSU

VALLEY CITY, N.D.-- Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND) scored 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to help lead the 19th-ranked University of Jamestown men's basketball team to an 81-64 win over Valley City State University Friday night.

It was the sixth straight win to open the season for Jamestown, who will host Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the GPAC opener on Wednesday.

VCSU took a 16-8 lead with 13:18 in the first half, but a Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) three-pointer started a 12-0 Jimmie run, and UJ never trailed again.

Jamestown led by as many as 14 points twice in the first half, including 45-31 after a Marc Kjos (JR/Lake City, MN) basket with 2:45 left, and had a 10-point advantage at the break.

UJ saw its lead cut to six after back-to-back Viking baskets opened the second half, but a Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) bucket and Kjos three-pointer built the lead back up to 11 points.

The Jimmies shot 13-of-28 but held VCSU to 11-of-29 shooting and outrebounded the Vikings 24-13 in the second half. Jamestown shot 51.6 (32-of-62) overall and were 11-of-25 (44 percent) from three-point range.

Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) had 16 points and four assists while Kjos scored 15 points and added four assists. Birch came off the bench to add 10 points.

It was the sixth win in the last seven meetings for UJ against the Vikings, who will play the Jimmies in Jamestown on November 27.