V-Hawks Fall in Exhibition with Winona State

WINONA, Minn. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team traveled to NCAA Division II Winona State University (Minn.) for an exhibition game on Monday night. The Warriors topped the V-Hawks 83-68 to improve to 5-1 on the season.

Viterbo jumped out of the gates to take a 9-0 lead, from four different scorers, four minutes into the game. Connor Drew finally put Winona State on the board with a three-pointer, and the Warriors would quickly even the game at 11-11 at the 13:24 mark. Robert Cunitz's layup at the 13 minute mark gave Viterbo what would be their final lead of the game, 13-11, and WSU would respond with an 11-0 run of their own. Ben Olson broke the run with a layup, and Cunitz converted an and-one to bring the game within four with 6:20 left. Jack Monis and Cole Crubel would each hit jumpers before the half ended, but Winona would take a 28-42 lead into the break.

Olson started the scoring for the V-Hawks in the second half, followed by a Monis layup and another Cunitz and-one. Luke Spink scored back-to-back layups, and recorded a steal to bring the score to 62-43 at the 11:40 mark. Keegan Severn set up Spink for another layup, and Dakota Mannel hit a jumper with 9:40 left to close the deficit to 67-51, followed by an Olson three and yet another Cunitz and-one. Olson and Crubel each converted late layups, leaving the final score at 83-68.

WSU outshot Viterbo 41%-43%, including 29%-12.5% from three. They also won the turnover battle 9-15.

Cunitz led the V-Hawks with team highs in points, 17, and rebounds, 7. Olson added 16 points, Monis had 10 points with sic boards, a steal, and a block, and Mannel led the team with four assists.

Dillon Conner led all scorers with 21 for the Warriors, and also recorded seven rebounds and four assists. Drew had 18 points, while Owen King had five points and eight assists.

Viterbo returns to action on Saturday, December 3 with their home conference opener against Waldorf (Iowa) at 5 PM.