DICKINSON – Christian Murphy scored a season-high 16 points, and pulled down 8 rebounds, to lead five Blue Hawks in double figures, but it wasn't enough to overcome a hot-shooting Viterbo squad as DSU's three-game conference winning streak was snapped with a 78-73 loss on Saturday.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing hands multiple times and neither team able to gain an advantage larger than five points after the opening minutes. Gus Wright gave the Blue Hawks the lead, 36-35, with 1:35 remaining, but three straight free throws by the visitors gave VU a 38-36 advantage at the half.

An 8-0 Viterbo run to start the half pushed the deficit to 46-36 with 17:20 left in the game, and DSU was never able to fully recover. Murphy scored five straight points of his own and Wright added another basket to make it a 7-0 DSU run, but again Viterbo stretched their lead back out and led 54-45 with 12:05 left in the game. The VU lead hovered around 10 for much of the second half, as every DSU run was answered by the V-Hawks in turn. With seven seconds left, Trey Hladky, knocked down a long range three to bring the Blue Hawks to within 76-73, after a full court press sparked a DSU run to get within striking distance. However, Viterbo was able to connect on both free throws after a DSU foul and seal the game.

John Evans (12 points), Kose Egbule (11 points), Wright (12 points), Hladky (10 points), and Murphy all finished in double digits for the Blue Hawks, but five V-Hawks also hit the benchmark as they shot 52 percent from the field as a team. Viterbo attempted just six three-pointers for the game and finished 2-6 from deep, instead attempting high-percentage shots leading to a huge advantage in shooting percentage for the game.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will conclude their first trip through NSAA play when they head on the road to take on Mayville State and Presentation College, January 20-21.