LA CROSSE WIS. – VCSU men's basketball defeats Viterbo University 89-71. The Vikings entered the night 5-0 off to a historic start and move to 6-0 to stay undefeated. Viterbo University is now 2-4 following their loss.
To start the first half the Vikings opened the games scoring after a
Tyrel Creger layup. Matching each other's pace the Vikings and V-Hawks went up and down the courts earning a few baskets a piece. The V-Hawks held a one-to-three-point lead for most of the first 5 minutes of the game.
With the score 15-13 in favor of Viterbo,
Shaheed Muhammad hit a three to even up the score. With the score of 17-17, Viterbo took their final lead of the night after a Brayden Bradway three. The Vikings matched that three with two layups of their own taking back the lead at 21-20. Down the stretch in the first half the Vikings scored nine layups off fastbreaks capitalizing on five steals from
Shaheed Muhammad.
In the first half the Vikings largest lead was 11 but finished the half leading 47-40. At half time
Lamar Grayson had tallied 14 points, shooting 6-9, two steals and one rebound.
Tyrel Creger had ten points, shooting 4-9, with two rebounds and an assist.
Shaheed Muhammad had seven points, five steals, and three rebounds. As a team the shot 49% from the field and 33% from the three-point line.
In the second half the Vikings built their lead to 18 with a score of 73-55. With five minutes remaining VCSU still held an 18 point lead with a score of 80-62. Staying active on defense and scoring efficiently on offense the Vikings closed the game with the final score of 89-71.
In the second half the Vikings outscored the V-Hawks 42-31. Grayson added 15 points, two steals, two assists, and five rebounds to his totals. He finished the game with a career high 29 points, six rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Creger added six points and one rebound, assist, and steal bringing his nights totals to 16 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Muhammad added five points, two steals, and an assist. He concluded the night with 12 points, seven steals, three assists, and three rebounds. Muhammad's seven assists it the third highest single game steals total in school history.
As a team the Vikings shot 35-69 from the field, and 7-25 for three. They scored 54 points in the paint, 23 points on fast breaks and had 29 bench points. The Vikings scored 24 points off turnovers.
The V-Hawks shot 25-61 from the field, and 4-14 for three. They scored 38 points in the paint, 14 points on fast breaks and had 23 bench points. The V-Hawks scored 9 points of turnovers.
UP NEXT: The Vikings continue in the Viterbo University Classic taking on the University of Saint Francis on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 A.M.
