Warriors Top V-Hawks in First Conference Game

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team fell to Waldorf University (Iowa), 86-70 in their North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference home opener on Wednesday night. The V-Hawks fall to 6-10 on the year (0-1 NSAA), while the Warriors improve to 6-9 (1-0 NSAA).

Waldorf scored the first eight points of the game before a pair of Jack Monis layups got Viterbo on the board. The Warriors continued to build their lead, going up 20-8 with 10:24 left. Keegan Severn hit a jumper, followed by four straight by Dakota Mannel, and another jumper by Monis to close the deficit to 22-16. Monis scored the next five points for Viterbo, and Cole Crubel hit the final shot of the half, but VU still trailed 39-23.

Nick Malovrh hit a pair of free throws to start the second, followed by Monis converting an and-one. Colin Adams and Monis each scored as the teams traded baskets, but at 13:40, Waldorf led 55-32. Malovrh hit back-to-back jumpers, then Crubel hit a pair of his own. Malovrh added a triple at 7:30, followed by one from Carson Koepnick. Viterbo then scored seven unanswered on free throws from Malovrh, Koepnick, and Crubel, but they were unable to close the gap, and after late threes from Stefan Popovic and Garrtet Locy, the V-Hawks lost 86-70.

Monis led the V-Hawks with 24 points, and Malovrh added 17 to go with three steals. Ugo Ejiofor led five Warriors in double-digits with 27.

Waldorf shot 47% from the floor, including 36% from three, while Viterbo was at 34.2% and 17.4% from three. The Warriors also grabbed more rebounds, 54-35, but committed more turnovers, 12-6.

Viterbo returns to action on Friday, January 12 as they travel to Mayville State University (ND).