Big Bend Vikings dispatch Salish-Kootenai

MOSES LAKE — The Big Bend Vikings men’s basketball team improved to 5-2 this season following their 106-80 victory over the visiting Salish-Kootenai Bison Tuesday night at the DeVries Activity Center on the Big Bend campus.

Big Bend took advantage of 25 points from Jeff Ranstrom and 24 points from Michael Hattar to distance themselves from the Bison late.

Hattar fell two rebounds short of a triple-double Tuesday night. Hattar scored 24 points, recorded 11 assists and grabbed eight rebounds in the winning effort.

Following a 54-46 lead in the first half, the Vikings outscored the Bison 53-34 in the game’s second half to earn the 26-point non-conference victory.

The Vikings were able to distance themselves from the Bison with their rebounding efficiency.

Big Bend was able to grab 19 offensive rebounds Tuesday night and convert them into 19 second-chance points to help the Vikings to victory. The Vikings out-rebounded the Bison on both ends of the court, earning a 52-37 advantage in rebounding.

Josh Schouman and Hattar each led Big Bend in rebounding. Both players grabbed eight rebounds each for the Vikings.

The Vikings return to the basketball court this weekend when they travel to Highline Community College to participate in the Crossover Tournament.