Blue Hawks drop nailbiter at Viterbo

Sagan Osborne | Dickinson State Sports Information Director

LA CROSSE, WIS. – Dickinson State erased an early 16-2 deficit, but lost a nailbiter at Viterbo University, 71-69, on Friday evening in La Crosse.

Gus Wright gave the Blue Hawks a quick 2-0 lead, but Viterbo responded with a 16-0 run to take a commanding early lead eight minutes into the game. Trey Hladky connected on a pair of free throws to end the run and a Kose Egbule three got the Blue Hawks to within six, 24-18, with 6:40 left in the half. A pair of free throws with one second left gave the V-Hawks a 35-27 lead headed into the halftime break.

For the first half, the Blue Hawks turned the ball over ten times and shot just 9-27 (33 percent) from the field. Christian Murphy led the scoring with 8 points, while also pulling down a team-high five rebounds.

The V-Hawks got their lead back to double digits early in the second half, 39-29, but a Jaiden Wright three with 13:48 left got the Blue Hawks to within one, 45-44. One possession later, John Evans knocked down a triple of his own to knot the game, 47-47, with 13:19 left to go. The three-point barrage continued as Tyce Dahlberg connected from deep giving the Blue Hawks their first lead of the game, 50-47, but Viterbo answered with a rare triple of their own to tie things right back up. The lead changed hands a handful of times down the stretch, with an Egbule layup with 16 seconds left tying the game at 69. A Viterbo driving layup with five seconds left gave them the lead, and after a pair of timeouts, Evans three point attempt from the corner rimmed in and out as the hosts were able to hold on for a win in the battle of second-place teams.

Murphy led the Blue Hawks with 14 points, while Egbule joined him in double figures with 12.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will head to Forest City, Iowa to take on Waldorf University at 4:00 pm MT for their final road conference game of the season.