V-Hawks Fall in Pair of Ranked Matchups

ORANGE CITY, Iowa. – The Viterbo University Men's Basketball team fell Friday and Saturday in two ranked matchups with #15 Northwestern 96-71 and RV Dordt (IA) 108-77. The V-Hawks fall to 2-3 while the Red Raiders rise to 3-0 and the Defenders sit at 4-0.

Jake Fisher would drain the first three of the game off an out of bounds play from Colin Adams. Adams would score the next layup for the V-Hawks before being held to five points while the Red Raiders went on a 16 point run. Sophomore, Brayden Bradway would be a threat on offense drawing numerous fouls leading to taking three free throws with plenty of time left in the half. The V-Hawks would pull of a series of layups, though putting in the work on defense.

Viterbo would come out of the half with a plan, Cole Crubel making a jumper within the first 20 seconds before Adams would make moves to score seven of the next 15 points for the V-Hawks. C. Crubel would take to the free throw line making only one, though he would redeem the miss with a three pointer shortly after. Freshmen, Treyton Fletcher and Lukas Hoffman would claim 10 of the final 15 points of the game.

Fisher led the V-Hawks with 14, Adams with 13, and Fletcher with 9 points. Alex Van Kalsbeek led the Red Raiders with 20.

The Red Raiders outshot the V-Hawks 62.1% to 37.1% from the floor while also committing less turnovers 11-14, though the V-Hawks outrebounded 37-35.

Adams would open game two of the weekend for VU with a layup and a three, C. Crubel would take the next six of nine points taking the lead over the Defenders. Back on the floor Bradway would draw an and one, before Fletcher would follow suit as the V-Hawks begin to fall behind. With less than five minutes remaining in the half C. Crubel was back at it draining four of the final six points of the half.

Adams taking to the lane would score 10 points of the half's opening 15, before Bradway would draw am and one once again, making the free throw in an attempt to close the gap in the lead. As the V-Hawks fall further behind Hoffman would come in scoring the final four points for Viterbo though it would not be enough.

Adams led the V-Hawks with 18, C. Crubel with 15, and Bradway with 10 points. Lucas Lorenzen led the Defenders with 22.

The V-Hawks were outshot from the floor 40.5%-55.1% and outrebounded 42-38.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, November 15, as they host Valley City State for the Viterbo University Classic.