Hot Shooting Carries V-Hawks over Eagles

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team topped Judson University (Ill.) for the second time this season in a 75-61 match on Saturday afternoon. The V-Hawks improve to 3-1 on the year, while the Eagles drop to 0-3.

While Judson would score on the first possession the V-Hawks would take over almost immediately, scoring 13 unanswered points, including seven from Ben Olson. Cole Crubel and Stefan Popovic hit back to back threes to extend the lead to 19-5 at 11:23. Dakota Mannel hit a jump shot, then set up a Nick Malovrh triple to bring the score to 29-14. Mannel found him again for three as the half ended with Viterbo ahead 36-21.

It would be Malovrh finding Mannel for three to start the second half, and Crubel scored eight straight for Viterbo as the lead extended to 20 with 13:20 left. Garret Locy hit a three of his own, and with both teams in foul trouble with 10 minutes left, the teams traded plenty of trips to the free throw line. The Eagles were not able to put together a run, however, and Carson Koepnick's layup with under a minute brought the V-Hawks to 75 and the win.

Malovrh led the V-Hawks with 17 points, while Crubel added 14 off the bench on 4-6 shooting from three. Mannel grabbed five rebounds, dished eight assists, and recorded three steals. Javaris Wiggins led all players with 23 points and six rebounds.

The teams shot almost identically from the floor, around 40.5%, but the V-Hawks were scorching hot from three (45.5%) compared to JU's 14.3%. The Eagles also committed five more turnovers (14-9.)

The V-Hawks return to action on Wednesday. November 8 as they host Edgewood College.