DES MOINES, IOWA — The Vikings started up Heart of America Conference play tonight, November 11th, in Sisam Arena versus the Mustangs of Mount Mercy University. Grand View would score 42 in the first half and 43 in the second half to roll past the Mustangs, 85-43.
Although the Mustangs scored off the tip, Grand View would find an immediate answer from Jacob Koontz on an and-one in the lane; Koontz would connect on the free throw to pull ahead 3-2 on the Viking's first possession. After back-and-forth possessions, the Mustangs and Vikings would be at a draw by the media timeout at 15s. After letting the Mustangs hang around in the game on second-chance opportunities, Grand View would hit the afterburners around the seven-minute mark as they went on an 8-0 run to lead by thirteen to close out the 1st half with momentum in their favor, 42-29.
Grand View's second-half surge was centered around hot three-point shooting from Noah Hart and Connor Robertson, who both hit a pair in critical burying moments - the Vikings shot a blistering 71.4% from beyond the arc in the second half. GVU would lead the Mustangs by double-digits the entire second half. Robertson would grant the Vikings their largest lead of the game after rattling off eight nearly straight points, pushing it to a 22-point deficit for the Mustangs. A blocked shot by Ayden Foster would lead to a poster dunk for power forward Jacob Koontz, on the baseline side that would finish Mount Mercy 85-66.
The next time the Vikings return to the floor will be this Saturday, November 18th, as they host the Baker University Wildcats (3-2, 1-0) in Sisam Arena. The men will tip off at 4:00 p.m., looking to keep their winning in Sisam alive.
Team Notes
- Grand View scored 25 bench points.
- The Vikings were hot from three, shooting 50%.
- Jacob Koontz returned for the Vikings following his injury and led the Vikings with a double-double - 16 points and 13 rebounds
- GVU outrebounded the Mustangs 52-33.
