V-Hawks Lose First Game in California

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team fell 75-50 to Hope International University (Calif.) in the first game of the HIU Tournament on Tuesday night. The V-Hawks fall to 5-8, while the Royals improve to 7-3.

Colin Adams scored the first basket of the game for the V-Hawks with a dunk at 17:17, but the Royals responded with a 12-2 run for the 14-4 lead. Adams converted an and-one to end the run, followed by a Garret Locy three. A Ben Olson layup brought the score to 14-19 with 8:49 left in the half, but the Royals were able to build back their lead to double digits, 25-14. Cole Crubel hit a three to knock it back down to single digits, but even after he and Nick Malovrh hit two more three-pointers, Hope led 45-25 at halftime.

Malovrh hit a jumper right out of the break, and Adams hit a three assisted by Locy, but HIU had a response each time. Jack Monis scored four straight points, but the V-Hawks still trailed by 15. Hope would lead by as much as 27. Olson made a pair of free throws with 7:26 left to bring the deficit back down, followed by two from Monis. However, after a Malovrh layup, Viterbo did not score for the final the final three minutes, and the V-Hawks lost 75-50.

Adams led the V-Hawks with 14 points, while Malovrh added 11 with seven rebounds. Calen Murray led four Royals in double digits with 14.

Hope shot 50% from the floor to Viterbo's 34%, including 36% from three to the V-Hawks 21.7%. The V-Hawks grabbed one more rebound, 29-28, but committed eight more turnovers, 14-6.

The V-Hawks return to action on Wednesday, December 20 against (RV) Vanguard (Calif.) in the final game of the HIU Tournament.