Viterbo starts fast, runs past Vikings

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — The Viterbo University men’s basketball team jumped out to a 15-point lead in the first 10 minutes and never looked back en route to a 74-55 nonconference win over Lawrence University on Thursday at the Just A Game Field House.

Viterbo (8-7) led by as many as 22 points in the first half, and the Vikings (4-5) weren’t able to get any closer than 16 points in the second half.

David Shepard scored 19 of his game-high 21 points in the first half to pace Viterbo. Pete Drummond added 15 points and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range for the V-Hawks.

Trace Sonnleitner scored 14 points to pace the Vikings, who played without star guard Jamie Nikitas due to injury. Freshman Jeremy Stephani started in Nikitas’ place and added 12 points, four assists and four rebounds.

Andrew Borresen, Ryan DePouw and Troy Miller added seven points apiece for the Vikings, and Borresen had a team-best eight rebounds.

Viterbo shot 56.3 percent in the first half with Shepard scoring in the post, and Drummond knocking down a trio of 3-pointers.

Lawrence struggled to knock down open shots as the Vikings connected on only 5-of-25 shots from beyond the 3-point line.

Lawrence now takes a break for the holidays and returns to action Jan. 3 when it travels to Grinnell College.

Box score