Vikes hammer H-LC for third straight win

The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team used balanced scoring and strong play in the paint Tuesday to post its season-opening third win in a row, a 72-47 non-conference home victory over Hannibal-LaGrange.

A week earlier, the Vikings had five players score in double figures during an 85-59 decision at Harris-Stowe State, and this contest was similar -- especially with a dominant second half. Against the Hornets, Valley commanded the game after the break, 42-22, and had nearly as great a spread versus the Trojans, 44-27.

Neither team was able to sustain momentum during the first period, with seven lead changes and four ties, but the Vikings closed with eight straight points -- including the three final buckets by junior J.D. Devault, a 6-foot-5 transfer from Green Bay, Wis.

A put-back by junior Bryant Porter began the second half, which would see Valley pull away with a 25-5 run. Eight different Vikings scored during that stretch, Devault and junior Patrick McDermott with five points each.

Six Trojan turnovers led to 11 Valley points, while second-chance shots added five more for the home team, which had built a 55-27 lead with 10:05 left in the game.

Sophomore Matt Ayers hit three shots as Hannibal-LaGrange sliced eight points off its deficit during a two-minute span, but senior Brandon Toliver sank two free throws and converted a feed inside from senior Craig Jones. The Trojans were unable to get closer than 19 points the rest of the way.

Seniors Matt Schmechtig and Brian Festog each scored 10 points for Hannibal-LaGrange (3-5), which missed all 13 attempts from three-point range and was bludgeoned on the boards by a 50-24 margin.

The Vikings have collected at least 50 rebounds in each of their first three games, all double-doubles for Toliver -- who had a game-high 17 points and 13 boards, along with a pair of blocked shots, in only 16 minutes of play.

McDermott, a 6-4 wing from Columbia, Ill., finished with 16 points, four assists and four steals, with Devault tallying 13 points and Jones adding 10. Valley out-scored the Trojans off turnovers (15-6), in the paint (42-28) and on second-chance shots (20-8).

The Vikings (3-0) will travel to St. Louis for a Saturday rematch with Missouri Baptist, which they beat by nine points in their season debut.