LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Northwestern College men’s basketball team (11-4, 3-3 GPAC) dominated the rebounding battle to take down the Viterbo V-Hawks (5-7, 0-1 NSAA) for the second time this season, using a second half surge to take a three-game win streak into 2022.
“We had a slow start. We battled some foul trouble. We talked about a few things at halftime,” noted head coach Kris Korver. “In the second half we got out of the gate and played with much more purpose.”
n a clean back and forth opening half, the Raiders would trail by one as both teams combined for only four turnovers in the first half. Northwestern would look to extend their lead midway through the half, at ten points (35-25) with 5:30 to go in the half, but the V-Hawks would go on the offensive to end the half, storming back with an 11-0 run to end the half and taking the lead into the locker room – their first lead since nine minutes into the contest.
Conner Geddes (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Harrisburg) led the Raiders with nine first half points and four rebounds. Trent Hilbrands (Sr., Remsen, Iowa/Le Mars Community) and Jesse Van Wyk (Sr., Sully, Iowa/Lynnville-Sully) both also grabbed four rebounds for the Raiders in the first 20 minutes, as Northwestern won the rebounding game 19-12.
The Raiders came out on fire in the second half, opening with a 13-6 run to take a 48-42 lead. Viterbo would keep within striking distance, but Northwestern would take a double-digit lead with 8:30 to go, forcing a shot clock violation on defense – and keeping the pressure on the V-Hawks. Alex Van Kalsbeek (So, Orange City, Iowa/MOC-Floyd Valley) erupted for 20 second half points to propel Northwestern, leading all scorers in the game with 26 points in the game, and nearly single-handedly keeping the V-Hawks at arm’s length the rest of the game. The Raiders outscored Viterbo 45-30 in the second half to secure the second win over the V-Hawks this season.
“Alex got going to start the second half. His teammates did a nice job of getting him the ball,” noted Korver. “Grant had a solid floor game and our guys moved the ball unselfishly, especially in the second half – It’s always great to see use near the 20-assist mark.”
The Raiders won the rebounding battle on the afternoon grabbing 36 boards to Viterbo’s 24, while holding Viterbo to 42.9% shooting. Northwestern also shared the ball at a clip of 19 assists, led by Grant DeMeulenaere (Sr., Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) who dished out a game-high six assists. Hilbrands and Geddes join Van Kalsbeek in scoring double digits in the contest. Hilbrands finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Geddes had 15 points and six rebounds.
“It’s a good way to go into break,” concluded Korver. “Hopefully our guys can get rejuvenated being at home, and enjoy family, celebrate Christ’s birth and come back excited.”
Up Next: Northwestern will conclude non-conference play on the season on Wednesday, December 29 when they travel to Madison, S.D. to battle another North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) foe in Dakota State University (3-10, 0-1 NSAA) at 7:00 p.m.
