Vikings breeze by William Woods

Sophomore Josh Boswell led the Vikings over William Woods with 19 points. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

After last week's grueling double-overtime win over Culver-Stockton, the Missouri Valley College men's basketball team could use a breather.

So the Vikings stepped outside the Heart of America Conference to make up an earlier postponed game against William Woods, coasting to an 82-57 victory Monday in the Burns Athletic Center. It was Valley's most decisive conquest since beating Hannibal-LaGrange by 25 points Nov. 18.

The Vikings took control with a 15-4 run midway through the first half. It was started by junior Roc Rogers' stick-back, given fuel on a three-pointer by sophomore Josh Boswell and capped with junior J.D. Devault's second bucket of the surge for a 19-10 lead with 8:46 left in the first half.

The Owls cut the margin to four points when sophomore Dan Anderson hit from outside and senior Justin Cornelius sank a short jumper, but Valley scored the next eight points, half from junior Rouven Haenig.

Cornelius made a three and junior Michael Moseley scored off the offensive glass, but William Woods couldn't sustain momentum. Boswell's put-back and bomb sent the Vikings into halftime with an 11-point lead.

The Owls got to within eight points four times -- twice on Anderson treys -- during the first three minutes of the second half, but wouldn't draw any closer. A perimeter jumper by junior Patrick McDermott and junior Bryant Porter's follow shot extended Valley's advantage to 13 points and it widened throughout the rest of the game.

Anderson had 14 points to pace William Woods (7-15), which was out-rebounded 39-27 -- giving up 15 offensive boards for 22 second-chance points.

After a three-game slump in which he was limited to 13 total points, Boswell found his stroke again with 19 points to lead the Vikings. Rogers had a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, as did Haenig with 14 points and 10 boards.

Valley (9-12) had its second-best shooting night of the campaign, making 50.8 percent of its attempts from the field, and connected with a season-high 11 three-pointers -- four by Boswell and three from Haenig.

The Vikings are hoping for their first three-game win streak since start of the season when they host Lindenwood in a league contest Thursday.