UW-L Wins Fifth Straight over Viterbo

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 25, 2008

La Crosse, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse men's basketball team opened its 2008-09 home schedule with a 73-52 victory over city-rival Viterbo University Tuesday night in Mitchell Hall in the 20th Annual Wells Fargo Alumni Cup. The Eagles improve to 2-1 on the season while the V-Hawks drop to 1-6.

It is UW-L's fifth straight win over Viterbo and the Eagles now lead the Alumni Cup series, 11-9.

Viterbo led 10-6 with 13:51 left in the first half when UW-L went on a 14-4 run to lead 20-14. The Eagles led 30-22 at halftime.

The V-Hawks cut the lead to 34-32 with 16:07 left in the game on a pair of Ryan Ambrose free throws, but the Eagles went on an 9-1 run to lead 43-33. Viterbo later cut the margin to six with 10:25 remaining, but could get no closer. UW-L finished the contest on a 14-4 run.

Tony Mane led UW-L with 22 points, going six-of-16 from the field, including two-of-five from three-point range. He hit all eight of his free throw attempts. Austin Scott scored 10 points off the bench, hitting four-of-five field goals, including two-of-three from three-point range. Matt DeMars had nine points while Kurt Kincaid finished with seven points and team-high six rebounds. Kincaid also finished with four blocks, three assists and one steal. Brandon Brown finished with six points, six assists and three rebounds.

UW-L shot 47.2% from the field, including 38.5% (five-of-13) from three-point range. The Eagles were 18-of-19 (94.7%) at the free throw line.

Eric Ambrose and Ryan Ambrose led Viterbo with 12 points each while Scott Buschman finished with 11 points and game-high nine rebounds off the bench. The V-Hawks shot 37.3% from the field, including 57.1% (four-of-seven) from three-point range. The team was 10-of-17 (58.8%) at the line.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, November 29 hosting St. Mary's University (Minn.) at 7 p.m.