DES MOINES, IA –Grand View Men's Basketball secured a thrilling victory over No. 25 Graceland University in a hard-fought home contest on Wednesday evening. The Vikings showcased their resilience using balanced scoring and key defensive plays to overcome multiple deficits and secure the 75-73 win in dramatic fashion.

Jaxson Young opened the game with a jumper off an assist from Patrick Worrell, followed by a layup from Ayden Foster. Ra'Shjon Martinez sank the first of his two three-point baskets in the half, and James Ogrodink added a quick layup to keep the momentum rolling. Young further showcased his athleticism with a heavily contested layup that highlighted his hang-time. Although Graceland held the lead for most of the first half, a huge block from Ogrodink sparked a nine-to-two scoring run for the Vikings, with contributions from Jackson Green, Young, and Ogrodink. The teams traded baskets as Foster kept the pressure on the Yellow Jackets, scoring a layup and converting a three-point play. A clutch layup from Ogrodink with just over three minutes left gave Grand View a brief lead. Despite a three-point dagger from Martinez and another layup from Foster, the Vikings entered halftime trailing by six points. Balanced scoring was the story of the first half, with Young, Foster, and Ogrodink each contributing nine points. Young and Green led the team with three assists apiece, while Gavyn Strand added two. Both teams limited turnovers to just three each, a key factor in Grand View's success.

Entering the second half within striking distance, the Vikings intensified their defensive pressure. Young recorded two steals, both leading to layups by Green. Joe Knutson provided an offensive spark with an elbow jumper and a putback layup, while Worrell added another block to his first-half total of two. Key plays, including two contested layups by Young and a three-pointer from Martinez, turned a ten-point deficit into a three-point game. Knutson's mid-range jumper brought the Vikings within one, but Graceland's effort on the boards kept the Yellow Jackets in contention. Grand View tied the game but briefly fell behind after a Graceland four-point run, which Foster halted with a momentum-shifting charge. Young tied the game again with a tough layup, followed by a jumper from Foster that gave the Vikings the lead with just over three minutes remaining. In a tense exchange of baskets, Connor Robertson drained a massive three-pointer, assisted by Foster, to put Grand View up by two with less than a minute to play. On the defensive end, the Vikings locked in, forcing a shot clock violation and regaining possession with 30 seconds left. After a free-throw attempt from Worrell, Graceland recovered the ball and scored a layup through a foul to tie the game. As the Yellow Jacket's point guard stepped to the line with the chance to win it, the tension in the gym heightened, and the free throw was no good, giving the Vikings the ball with time for one last shot. In a dramatic final moment, Young delivered once again, sinking the game-winning jumper and electrifying the crowd as Grand View upset the No. 25 team, 75-73.

GAME NOTES

• Jaxson Young was a key contributor, leading with 23 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals.
• Ayden Foster added 13 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds.
• James Ogrodink provided 11 points and 3 rebounds.
• Ra'Shjon Martinez chipped in 10 points, shooting 3-for-7 from behind the arc.
• The Vikings shot an impressive 56.1% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
• Grand View limited their turnovers to 7 while forcing Graceland into 13 turnovers.

UP NEXT
Grand View will travel to Baldwin City, Kansas, on Saturday, December 14, to face No. 12 Baker University at 4:00 p.m.