Olson, Cunitz lead V-Hawks over Falcons

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team hosted UW-River Falls in R.W. Beggs, Sr. Gymnasium on Wednesday night, and claimed an 85-70 victory. The V-Hawks improve to 7-3 (1-0 NSAA) while the Falcons drop to 3-5 (0-2 WIAC).

The V-Hawks started the game hot from three, with Alex King hitting a pair, and Robert Cunitz adding one of his own on a Jack Monis assist, putting Viterbo up 11-6 at the 16:38 mark. King and Cunitz each hit another three before River Falls would go on an 8-0 run, closing the gap to 20-19 with 11:36 left in the half until Luke Spink's layup ended the run. Colin Adams earned steals on consecutive Falcon possessions, leading to a dunk and Cunitz's third three of the half. Ben Olson helped the V-Hawks close out the half with two trips to the line and a layup, while Adams' free throw left the score at 40-32 going into the break.

Cunitz led all scorers at the half with 11, while King and Olson each had 10. Adams had three rebounds, two steals and a block off the bench. Logan Jedwabny had 10 points and two steals for River Falls.

Olson started the half with a jumper, followed by another Cunitz three, set up by Dakota Mannel. Rodrick Payne's dunk brought the game within four, 50-46 at 14:33, and after a two minute drought by both teams Cole Crubel found Spink for a three. Olson scored on back-to-back possessions, and King would nail another three to go up 60-49 with 8:12 left in the game. Olson score the next six points for the V-Hawks, and Mannel would set up Cunitz's fifth three of the night and a Monis layup, putting Viterbo up by 18. The Falcons fouling, sending Olson and Cunitz to the line, and Keegan Severn capped the game with a dunk, giving the V-Hawks an 85-70 win.

Viterbo outshot River Falls 50%-41%, including 52.6%-34.5% from three. The V-Hawks also won the rebound battle 35-29 and scored 22 points off 15 Falcon turnovers.

Olson led all players with a career-high 26 points, while adding five rebounds and two steals, Cunitz posted 25 points, five boards and two steals, and Mannel dished a game-high five assists. Jedwabny led River Falls with 20 points and five rebounds, while Payne had 11 and seven.

The V-Hawks return to action Saturday, December 10 at Saint Xavier (Ill.) in the first game of a home-and-away series.