V-Hawks End Skid, Begin 2023 with a Win

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team broke a four game losing streak on Friday night, as they topped Presentation College (S.D.) 78-74. The V-Hawks improve to 8-7, 2-0 in North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) play, while the Saints drop to 5-9 and 0-2 in conference play.

The teams traded a pair of threes to being the game, Isaiah Cabrera for the Saints and Colin Adams for the V-Hawks. Dakota Mannel would set up a Robert Cunitz layup and a Cole Crubel three to put Viterbo up 18-12 at the 11:06 mark. Cunitz's steal led to a fast break layup, followed by a Luke Spink-assisted three to go up 25-14. Four straight trips to the free throw line without a miss for Viterbo put them up 39-23 with 3:06 left, and Keegan Severn hit one from the stripe to bring the score to 44-26 going into the break.

Cunitz led all scorers with 13 first-half points to go with three rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Ben Olson had six points and five boards, and Mannel had six points, three steals, and two dimes. Isaac Sumption had eight points and two rebounds to lead the Saints.

Jack Monis scored early in the second off an Olson steal, but Presentation responded with a 9-2 run to close the score to 48-35 five minutes in. Cunitz and Cabrera traded another pair of threes before Mannel found Alex King for a layup with 11 minutes left. The V-Hawks led by 15 following a Jack Monis free throw before the Saints began to chip away at the lead, starting with a Jackson Becker layup. Tyrese Eugene's layup brought the game back within single digits, 69-60 with 3:04 left, and Cabrera's three at 1:28 made it a four-point game, 73-69. Olson's layup at :38 extended the lead back to six, but Sumption nailed a three with :30 left to make it one possession, 75-72. The Saints would be forced to foul after that, allowing the V-Hawks to secure a 78-74 win.

Viterbo out shot Presentation 51%-47.5%, including 40%-28% from three, and won the rebounding battle 36-28m while the Saints had more points in the paint, 40-34, and second chance points, 10-6.

Cunitz tied a game-high with 16 points to go with five boards, Olson and Monis each added 15 points, and Mannel had nine along with a game-high seven assists. For the Saints, Eugene matched the game-high 16 points, while Sumption and Cabrera each had 14. Travez Nyx had 11 points, seven boards, and five assists.

The V-Hawks return to action Saturday, January 7 at 5 PM as they host Mayville State University (N.D.).