DES MOINES, IOWA – The Grand View University men's basketball team returned to action on Monday evening, facing Clarke University to begin a series of games at Sisam Arena. In a hard-fought battle that lasted all 40 minutes, the Vikings emerged victorious with a gritty 75-68 win over the Pride.

The Pride stormed to an early 17-6 advantage by the second media timeout, but the Vikings fought back, trimming the gap to single digits with a timely three-pointer from Jackson Green and two free throws by Luke Hart. Ayden Foster added momentum with a steal and layup, followed by another layup from Jaxson Young after an empty Pride possession, bringing the deficit to just three points with five minutes remaining in the first half. Although the Pride managed to extend their lead to as much as eight, Foster's pair of free throws allowed the Vikings to head into halftime trailing by only five points.

In the second half, Grand View overcame a back-and-forth battle to secure a hard-fought victory. Patrick Worrell opened the scoring with a three-pointer to give the Vikings an early lead, but Clarke responded with strong perimeter shooting to keep the game close. Jaxson Young led the charge for the Vikings, converting crucial layups and assisting on key baskets, including a three-pointer assisted by Joe Knutson that put Grand View ahead for good midway through the half.

As the clock wound down, the Vikings tightened their defense, forcing turnovers and holding Clarke to contested shots. James Ogrodink and Ayden Foster made critical contributions at the free-throw line, while Young's clutch layup with 40 seconds left sealed the game. Despite a late push by Clarke, Grand View's poise at the line and a team effort on the boards preserved a 75-68 victory. Young finished as the standout performer, capping a gritty second-half performance that secured the win for the Vikings.

Jaxson Young continues to shine in the second semester, building on his impressive start with another standout performance. Recording his second consecutive double-digit scoring game, Young delivered in efficient minutes, leading the Vikings in scoring for the second straight week.

GAME NOTES

• Grand View capitalized with 17 points off turnovers, nearly doubling Clarke's 9.
• The Vikings dominated the offensive glass, turning rebounds into 9 second-chance points compared to Clarke's 7.
• The Vikings owned the interior, outscoring Clarke 34-18 in the paint.
• Jaxson Young delivered a game-high 20 points, shooting 53% from the field while adding 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
• Dominating at the free-throw line, Ayden Foster converted all 8 of his attempts and contributed 10 points alongside 8 rebounds.
• The Vikings responded in key moments, tying the score three times during the game.
• Efficient scoring came from Joe Knutson, who hit 80% of his shots, tallying 9 points and 5 rebounds.
• Impacting the game off the bench, James Ogrodnik provided 10 points and pulled down 5 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action.
• Patrick Worrell added 7 points, collected 7 rebounds, and recorded a block in 29 minutes.

UP NEXT
Grand View will ride out the week in Sisam Arena, where they will face William Penn, who is 5th overall in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, at 7:30 p.m. in Des Moines.