Bellevue Ends V-Hawks Four Game Win Streak

BELLEVUE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team traveled to Bellevue University (Neb.) to start the second half of North Start Athletic Association (NSAA) play on Friday night, but lost 57-73. The V-Hawks drop to 12-9 (6-2 NSAA), while the Bruins improve to 13-9 (5-3 NSAA).

 Jack Monis started the game strong, scoring six of the V-Hawks first eight points, and taking an 8-6 lead at 15:20. The bench would do a great job at keeping the game close, with Cole Crubel scoring three baskets, Keegan Severn adding a jumper, and Alex King and Luke Spink distributing the ball. Ben Olson added back-to-back layups and a steal to bring the score to 21-22 at 7:06, but the offense would slow down toward the end of the half, only scoring five more points, capped with a Robert Cunitz layup, and the V-Hawks would trail 26-33 going into the break.

Dakota Mannel and Monis paced Viterbo to start the second half, but the Bruins matched bringing the score to 34-41 following a Mannel and-one. Bellevue would then go on an 8-0 run, until Ben Olson ended it with a pair of free throws at 10:58. Cunitz closed the deficit to single digits with a layup at 9:05, but that would be the closest they would get. Olson and Crubel each hit threes late in the game, with Monis' free throws ending the game with the score at 27-73.

Bellevue narrowly outshot Viterbo from the field (50%-47%) and from three (31%-30%)m while also winning the rebounding battle (32-29) and turnover margin (8-11), leading to 13 more points (18-5).

Monis led the V-Hawks with 13 points and four rebounds, Crubel had 12 points, Olson had 11, and Mannel had six with six boards. Paulo Araujo and Taylor Pomeroy each had 18 points for the Bruins, while Justin Motley had 14 points and nine rebounds.

Viterbo returns to action on Saturday, January 28 at Dakota State University (S.D.).