ATCHISON, KANSAS – The Grand View men's basketball team defeated Benedictine 66-55 on Saturday afternoon, overcoming a halftime tie to pull away in the second half. 

The opening half was a defensive battle. Daviyon Gaston hit a three-pointer to give Grand View an early 3-0 lead, but Benedictine fought back to take a 4-3 advantage. Joe Knutson hit a free throw to tie the game at 4-4, then scored assisted by Gaston to give the Vikings a 6-6 tie. Lukas Helms added a layup to give Grand View an 8-6 lead, and Patrick Worrell knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Gaston to extend it to 11-6. Gaston hit two free throws to push the lead to 13-7, and O'Shawn Jones-Winslow scored assisted by Jaxson Young to make it 15-7. The Ravens battled back to cut the deficit to 15-9, but Grand View maintained control. Gaston scored to give the Vikings a 19-13 lead, but Benedictine closed the half strong. Gaston added a layup to give Grand View a 21-19 advantage followed by a Gaston three-pointer assisted by Rodell Davis Jr. at the buzzer to tie the game at 24-24 heading into halftime. 

Grand View took control in the second half. Helms hit a three-pointer assisted by Young to give the Vikings a 27-24 lead. Young scored assisted by Gaston to make it 29-28, and Helms hit a free throw to get Grand View within 3 points at 33-30. Worrell knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Gaston to tie the game at 33-33, and Gaston added a layup to give the Vikings a 35-33 lead. Gaston hit a free throw to extend it to 36-35, and Helms scored assisted by Gaston to push the lead to 38-35. Young hit a three-pointer assisted by Luke Hart to make it 41-35, and Helms added another layup assisted by Gaston to extend the advantage to 43-35. Jones-Winslow knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Hart to give Grand View a 46-38 lead. Gaston hit a three-pointer assisted by Hart to push it to 49-38, and Jones-Winslow added another three-pointer assisted by Gaston to extend the lead to 52-41. Hart hit a three-pointer assisted by Young to give the Vikings their largest lead at 55-41. Young scored twice to push the lead to 59-43, and Worrell added a layup assisted by Hart to make it 62-50. The Vikings hit free throws down the stretch to secure the 66-55 victory. 

GAME NOTES:  

• Daviyon Gaston led Grand View with 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting, hitting 3-of-4 three-pointers and adding 5 rebounds and 7 assists. 

• Lukas Helms contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds.  

• Jaxson Young added 11 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds. ] 

• Patrick Worrell chipped in 9 points.  

• O'Shawn Jones-Winslow added 8 points off the bench.  

• Grand View shot 41.8% from the field and 50.0% from three-point range, including an impressive 77.78% three-point shooting in the second half.  

• The Vikings outrebounded Benedictine 41-38 and forced 16 turnovers. Grand View improves with the road victory. 

WHATS NEXT? 

The Vikings return home on Wednesday, January 21st where they will take on William Penn. The Vikings are now 12-6 overall, and 7-4 in conference play.