Viterbo Loses Heartbreaker at Home

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team fell to Saint Xavier University (Ill.) 79-81 in the second game of an away-and-home series. The V-Hawks drop to 7-5 while the Cougars improve to 10-3.

St. Xavier took the early advantage, going up 2-9 on a Cedric Johnson three, three minutes into the game. Alex King responded with a three, assisted by Robert Cunitz, and Dakota Mannel set up Cunitz for a three of his own at 15:52 to bring the score to 8-11. Jack Monis put in a layup, then set up Cunitz for another three to give the V-Hawks their first lead of the game, 15-13 at 12:52. Colin Adams contributed a block, steal, and layup off the bench to help Viterbo reclaim the lead 22-21 with 5:30 left in the half, and Mannel found King or another three to extend that lead. After Jaeden King nailed a three for the Cougars to tie the game at 27-27, Viterbo would close the half on a 13-2 run fueled by two Cole Crubel threes, and five points from Ben Olson.

Olson led the V-Hawks with nine first half points, followed by Monis' eight points and six rebounds, and Crubel's eight points. Johnson led the Cougars with nine points, and Trey Ward added four points and three steals off the bench.

Johnson led a quick 9-0 SXU run to start the second half, ended by Monis' layup at 17:00. A. King's steal and layup put Viterbo up 45-41, but TJ Babikir converted an and-one to help give the Cougars the lead. A three from Julian Barr gave St. Xavier their largest lead of the game , 47-57. Adams broke the run with a three, and started a run for the V-Hawks, capped by a Crubel and-one that closed the deficit to 55-57 with 9:23 left. Drew Bishop hit a pair of threes, but Olson answered and Mannel found Monis to keep VU within 1 at the 6:19 mark. J. King hot another triple to go up seven, but the V-Hawks continued to earn trips to the line to keep the game close. Cunitz stole the ball and hit a pair from the stripe to tie the game. Johnson scored hit :07 seconds left, and Crubel's off balance shot at the buzzer was no good, giving SXU the win.

St. Xavier outshot Viterbo 52%-42%, including 37.5%-32% from three. Viterbo won the rebounding battle 45-26, but lost the turnover battle 23-12.

Monis led the V-Hawks with a 21 point, 13 rebound double-double, Olson added 15 points with six rebounds, and Cunitz had 14 points, three rebounds an assist and aa steal. Mannel led all players with eight assists. Johnson had a game-high 28 points, with six assists and five boards, and Kevin Bishop had 10 points to go with 12 rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

The V-Hawks return to action on Monday, December 19 as they play host to Mount Mercy University (Iowa).