Monis Hits Game-Winner Against Dakota State

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team hosted Dakota State University (S.D.) in a North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) battle on Friday night, and earned a 61-60 win. The V-Hawks improve to 11-8 (5-1 NSAA), while the Trojans fall to 8-12 (2-4 NSAA).

Both teams would start slow offensively, with Colin Adams scoring the first basket, a layup, at 17:55, and the second score of the game would come over a minute later, an Adams dunk from Dakota Mannel. Three straight threes by the Trojans, two from Ben Hoverson, gave Dakota State the 8-13 lead at 12:44. Adams ended an over five minute drought by both teams with a layup, and a Robert Cunitz steal led to Ben Olson finding Adams for a triple, bringing the score to 13-15 at 6:06. Jack Monis had a pair of baskets in the paint, and Cunitz added a three with under a minute to bring the game within one, but Chris Morales grabbed an offensive board with two seconds left and converted the putback to leave the score at 24-27 going into halftime.

Adams had 11 first half points to go with three rebounds and two blocks, while Hoverson countered with 11 points and a steal of his own.

Cunitz kicked off the second half with a quick six points to take the lead, but Hoverson kept the Trojans on top with the first 11 points of the half for Dakota State. Monis found Olson to put the V-Hawks up three at 12:51, and multiple trips to the free throw line would see four ties by the teams until the Trojans took a 49-51 lead with 6:49 left. Luke Spink's assist to Olson tied the game again, and while Adams would put the V-Hawks up by five with three minutes left, Ethan Slaathaug tied the game a minute later. Ethan Damerum split a pair of free throw to go up 59-60 with :57 left, but Viterbo turned the ball over with :37 left in the game. With the shot clock on, the V-Hawks dug in on defense, and Olson came up with a steal, Mannel started the break, and Monis hit a floater for the lead with three seconds left. Slaathaug had a look at a three for the win, but hit the back iron and Viterbo would claim victory 61-60.

The teams shot an identical 40.7% from the floor, and while Dakota State shot better from three (37%-29%), the free throws would make the difference, as Viterbo shot 9-12 (75%) and Dakota State shot 6-15 (40%).

Cunitz had a team-high 17 points, Adams had 16 and two steals, while Monis had 11 and eight rebounds and Mannel had 11 and nine assists. Hoverson had a game-high 29 points on 7-11 shooting from three.

Vitebro returns to the hardwood on Saturday afternoon as they host Bellevue University (Neb.) at 5 PM.