Cougars win big

The MVNU men’s basketball team (7-1) picked up two big wins last week, knocking off West Virginia Institute of Technology 98-85 and beating out Great Lakes Christian College 115-53.

Head Coach Jared Ronai was proud of the Cougars’ effort.

“Offensively, we moved the ball well and were able to create situations we want to attack,” Ronai said. He added that the Cougars have to “continue to improve in certain areas defensively.”

In the win against West Virginia Tech, sophomore Brett Vipperman led the Cougar attack with 23 points. He also pulled down five rebounds. Senior Deontae Cole scored 14 points.

In the Cougars’ second victory of the week, all 13 MVNU players earned minutes and scored at least two points. The majority of the score came from the Cougars’ bench, who combined for 80 of MVNU’s 115 total points.

Sophomore Emmett Fraley scored 18 points off the bench. Cole added 16 points in the victory.

Ronai was proud of the Cougars’ defensive effort. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, holding a team to 53 points is always a good thing.”

Ronai said the Cougars still look to improve on both ends of the court.

“Our main goal coming into this game was getting better,” Ronai said. “We played the way we should’ve played, and that’s our focus, to get better one day at a time.”

The Cougars will open conference play at home against Marian University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

“We have to come into practice locked in and focused,” Cole said.

The Cougars look to finish on both ends as they welcome Marian.

“We have to come in and execute both offensively and defensively as we begin Crossroads play,” Cole said.