Olson's Huge Night Help V-Hawks Down Saints

ABERDEEN, SD – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball earned a win at Presentation College (SD) in an 84-80 nailbiter on Saturday night. . The V-Hawks improve to 15-11 (9-4 NSAA), while the Saints fall to 6-19 (1-12 NSAA).

Ben Olson would score the first points of the game, and six of the first eight for Viterbo. Jack Monis scored the next six for the V-Hawks to tie the game 14-14 at 14:27, and Olson found Robert Cunitz for three to give Viterbo the lead. Cole Cruble and Luke Spink each hit shots off the bench to extend the lead, but the Saints went on a major run to take the lead 33-31 at 4:02. Keegan Severn's jumper stopped the run, followed by an Olson steal and layup as Viterbo took a 40-37 lead into halftime.

Dakota Mannel got the action going for Viterbo in the second, with a basket and a steal that led to a Cunitz triple. Olson would score eight straight for the V-Hawks, and Alex King hit a three off the bench to make it a seven-point game with under 10 minutes left. Monis converted an and-one, and Olson nailed a threat 7:07 making the score 66-57. Although Maximo Guillermo made it one possession at 2:37, Olson hit a pair of jumpers with a Cunitz three in between, and the V-Hawks it their foul shots late to win the game 84-80.

Viterbo had a slight edge from the floor, 53%-50%, but were extremely hot from three, hitting 62% of their shots compared to 29% by the Saints. Viterbo also won the rebounding battle, 31-26.

Olson led all players with 34 points to go with five boards and Mannel contributed three assists and two steals. Travez Nyx had 16 points for the Saints.

The V-Hawks complete their regular season schedule on Thursday, February 16 at Waldorf University (Iowa).