January 31, 2020

Photos credit by Viterbo (Wis.) Sports Information Matthew Riebe

La CROSSE, Wis. – Despite holding an 11-point lead late in the second-half, Dakota State's (S.D.) Josh McGreal hit a game-winning basket with less than five seconds left and held off Viterbo (Wis.) for a 55-54 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference victory at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium Friday evening.  It was the second time in a span of six days that both teams played each other.

The Trojans improved to 7-16 overall record and 3-5 North Star conference record, winning their second straight game.  The V-Hawks fell to 10-11 overall record and 4-4 NSAA record.  DSU handed VU its third home defeat this season in 10 games (7-3 VU home record).

DSU is currently one game behind four-way tie for third place in the NSAA conference standings.  After Friday's results, Viterbo is in a tie with Valley City State (N.D.), Waldorf (Iowa) and Dickinson State (N.D.) (each with 4-4 record).

Dakota State looks to extend their winning streak Saturday evening, playing another North Star road contest at Waldorf (Iowa).  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at Hanson Fieldhouse in Forest City, Iowa.  Viterbo stays home as they host Bellevue (Neb.) at 5 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 55, Viterbo (Wis.) 54 – FINAL

• Knotted at 5-5, Viterbo stormed with a 14-2 outburst to earn the largest lead of the game at 19-7 after a basket by Nicolas Malovrh with nine minutes and thirty-three seconds on the clock.
• The Trojans would answer with a 13-2 scoring run, including hitting three 3-pointers (a pair by Carson Rentz and one from McGreal).  Sawyer Koch capped the scoring run with a basket to cut VU's lead to 21-20 with 5:32 left in the first half.
• Trailing 27-22, Rentz drained a 3-pointer as DSU trimmed Viterbo's lead to 27-25 with less than 30 seconds before halftime.
• Viterbo shot 42.9 percent from the field (12-of-28 field goals) compared to Dakota State 37 percent (10-of-27 field goals) in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• Tied at 34-34 after Cole Bruhn's basket, Rentz followed up with another 3-pointer to give DSU a 37-34 lead with 13:43 left.
• Leading 39-38, the Trojans reeled off 10 straight points to earn a 49-38 lead after a 3-pointer by Gare Ewefada with 6:42 remaining.
• With DSU leading 51-41, Viterbo used a strong closing run to regain the lead.  The V-Hawks used a 13-2 scoring run, capped by a lay-up by Tyree Young to give VU a 54-53 lead with less than 35 seconds left.  The Trojans called a timeout on the next possession.
• McGreal hit a jump shot with just less than five seconds remaining to give Trojans a 55-54 advantage.
• V-Hawk Brady Polk missed a 3-pointer as the time expired, securing the victory for DSU.
• Dakota State outscored Viterbo 30-27 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans were 11-of-24 field goals (45.8 percent) in the second half compared to the V-Hawks 9-of-21 field goals (42.9 percent).
• Rentz led Dakota State with 15 points on his 5-of-11 shooting from the 3-point arc.  He had two steals.  McGreal added 12 points (5-of-8 field goals) and pulled down six rebounds.  Ewefada scored nine points.
• Brady Van Holland scored eight points off the bench for the Trojans.  He also had seven rebounds.  Bruhn dished out a game-high six assists.
• Young posted a double-double of 17 points and collected 10 rebounds for Viterbo.  He was 7-of-13 from the field.  He also dished out four assists.  Jack Monis had eight points.  Robert Cunitz and Jesse Kutz each tallied seven points. 
• The V-Hawks shot 42.9 percent overall from the field (21-of-49 field goals) compared to the Trojans 41.2 percent (21-of-51 field goals).  DSU drained 9-of-29 3-pointers (31 percent), while VU was 3-of-14 from the 3-point arc (21.4 percent).
• Viterbo converted 9-of-14 free-throws (64.3 percent).  DSU was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line (66.7 percent).
• The V-Hawks outrebounded the Trojans 36-26 in the game.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director