MVC basketball: Valley cruises to HAAC win

The Missouri Valley College men's basketball team avoided its first three-game skid of the season Thursday by crushing Heart of America Conference foe Culver-Stockton, 68-45, in Grover C. Redford Gymnasium.

It was the Vikings' most lopsided victory since beating Trinity International (Ill.) by 42 points on Nov. 20 during the middle of a seven-game win streak.

The Wildcats were competitive for all of five minutes, before the Vikings broke a 4-4 tie with a 13-point run. Senior Patrick McDermott began the surge by making a second-chance bucket and then feeding senior J.D. Devault inside.

Senior Roc Rogers made a pair of plays for scores, setting up senior Bryant Porter for a fast break with a steal and then getting the ball to senior Rouven Haenig after senior Melvin Roberts' offensive rebound. Haenig scored again and junior Toray Henry sank two free throws before Culver ended its skein with a three-pointer by senior Jason Gillespie.

Gillespie connected again from outside a minute later, but that was only a temporary respite for the Wildcats -- Valley answering with a 13-2 stretch begun with a lay-up and bomb from Devault.

Rogers converted four free throws in a row, both trips to the line coming after offensive boards, and junior Tristian Hill drove to give the Vikings a 32-12 lead with four minutes left in the first half.

Senior Jordan Ayers' trey interrupted Valley's momentum momentarily, but eight points in a row sent the home team into the break leading by 23 points. The Vikings made 11 of 12 shots from the charity stripe during the half, including seven of eight by Rogers.

Ayers hit another three to open the second frame, before Valley scored nine points in a row -- including a Hill bomb -- to make it 51-20 with 15:24 remaining. The gap was still 31 points after another 10 minutes before the 'Cats' late flurry.

Gillespie had 19 points, five rebounds and three assists to lead Culver-Stockton (5-18, 3-10 HAAC).

Hill matches his career high with 14 points while Haenig and Rogers combined for 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Vikings (16-8, 8-5), who play Thursday at Lindenwood.