Box Score To view post-game video with Head Coach Jeff Oseth visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImgAeT3pXM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The hot shooting Valley City State University men's basketball team was able to deliver a loss to the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team as the Golden Eagles lifted the lid on the 2013-14 season. The Golden Eagles would cut the Viking advantage down to single digits but were unable to overcome Valley City State as they fell 65-47 to the Vikings.

The Golden Eagles drop to 0-1 after the season opening loss while Valley City State, who had already played three games, improves to 1-3.

Minnesota Crookston opened the 2013-14 season with just five returnees and 11 newcomers to the squad and the Golden Eagles showed their youth at times on the night. The Golden Eagles did get a strong performance out of junior college transfer Tyler West, Jr. (Jr., F, Portland, Ore./Communications), who led the team with 15 points on the night. Senior Ashton Harrell (G, Houston, Texas/Sports and Rec Management) struggled to hit shots at times but still finished with 11 points on the night.

The Golden Eagles got some added energy from junior point guard Kevin Larson (G, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), who would finish with five points, three assists and three rebounds while Derrick Redd (So., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) also brought some energy and quickness off the bench, scoring four points, including an impressive dunk, and grabbing three rebounds.

The Golden Eagles would finish the night shooting just 16-of-53 from the field for 30.2 percent and were 4-of-17 from three-point range for 23.4 percent. They tied the Vikings for rebounding on the night with 31 led by four rebounds from West and senior Brandon Burns (F, Baton Rouge, La./Sports and Rec Management).

Valley CIty State had four players finish with double-figute scoring as they went 18-of-37 from the field for 48.6 percent and hit 9-of-18 three-pointers attempted for 50 percent. Aaron Duske led the way with 16 points while Jeff Romeus provided a spark off the bench with his long distance shooting, connecting on 4-of-5 treys for the Vikings to finish with 13 points. Quick point guard A.J. McDonald would add 11 points while Jeremy Ware also had 11. Duske would lead the Vikings in boards with seven.

Valley City State would get out to a 41-26 advantage at the half after shooting 60 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from three in the first half led by 12 first-half points from Duske. The Golden Eagles would be led by nine first-half points from Harrell.

The Golden Eagles did make a push in the second half as they were able to use their speed to run the court and go on a 6-0 run to get down just nine points at the 16:52 mark following a lay-up from Redd and then Redd's dunk off a good pass from Giorgi Koguashvili (Jr., G, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia/Agricultural Business). The run would culminate with two free throw shots from Lucas Reller (Jr., G, Lead, S.D./Management).

However, VCSU would fight back and get back out to a 14-point lead (54-40) with 7:40 remaining and would not look back.

The Golden Eagles will continue the 2013-14 non-conference slate at home at the tail of end of a triple header at Lysaker Gymnasium featuring a women's basketball game at 3 p.m. against William Penn University and a volleyball match versus Winona State University at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles will face Northland College at 8 p.m. Northland is coached by former UMC assistant coach Scott Sorenson for four seasons from 2009-12. Northland also has former Minnesota Crookston player Mike Boebel on the roster as it will be a homecoming of sorts for two former Golden Eagles.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).