VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – The Valley City State and Viterbo University men's basketball teams battled back and forth Friday evening at VCSU's W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, but it was the V-Hawks who struck last – scoring the final nine points for an 89-82 road win at VCSU.
With the teams tied at 80-80, Daevonte Munson scored inside for the Vikings as they took an 82-80 lead with 2:33 remaining. Viterbo's Cole Crubel cut the deficit in half with a free throw, and then Jack Monis scored inside to give the V-Hawks the lead for good at 83-82 with 1:20 to go. The Vikings had a pair of possessions to take the lead or tie in the final minute, but were unable to convert, and Viterbo made free throws down the stretch for the 89-82 victory.
Valley City State drops to 8-10 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Viterbo University improves to 9-8 overall and is now 3-1 in the North Star Athletic Association.
The Vikings shot 40 percent in the game while Viterbo hit 57 percent of its shots. The Vikings made up for the shooting discrepancy by forcing 23 Viterbo turnovers that lead to 21 Viking points. VCSU attempted 16 more shots than the V-Hawks and had a 13-11 advantage on the offensive glass – including five by Edmon Paul Oyet.
VCSU finished the game shooting 28-for-70 overall, 6-for-21 on 3's and 20-for-25 on free throws. Viterbo went 31-for-54 from the field, 5-for-13 on 3's and 22-for-35 on free throws.
Four Vikings reached double figures, led by a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double by Oyet. Munson scored 14 points, while Hunter Lyman totaled 12 points and four rebounds. Duoth Gach made two 3's and had 11 points and four assists.
Jack Monis had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead four V-Hawks in double figures. Ben Olson shot 8-for-11 and had 10 points, while Robert Cunitz finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Crubel added 12 points off the bench.
Valley City State took the early lead at 7-1, but Viterbo led most of the first half including by as many as nine points at 24-15 midway through the half. VCSU used a 6-0 run late in the first half to regain the lead at 41-40. The teams traded baskets in the final 70 seconds and Viterbo took a 44-43 lead into the locker room.
A basket by Ben Olson gave the V-Hawks a 51-45 lead early in the second half before the Vikings came alive. VCSU ripped off an 8-0 run – including six points by Daevonte Munson – to regain the lead at 53-51. A 3-pointer by Edmon Paul Oyet extended the Viking lead to 63-56 with 12:05 remaining. The Vikings would maintain a lead for the next nine minutes, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Viterbo's Cole Crubel tied the game at 80-80 with 2:48 remaining.
Up next: Valley City State hosts Waldorf University on Saturday. The women tip at 3 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 5 p.m.
