Dubuque, Iowa - The Crusaders of Clarke College didn't let their last place standing in the Midwest Collegiate Conference get in the way of upsetting Viterbo University tonight as the Crusaders dropped the V-Hawks 83-77. The loss is the first in five games for the men's basketball team.

Coming in to the game, the Crusaders stood at just 5-23 overall while 2-12 in the MCC. In contrast, the V-Hawks had posted a 10-4 record in the MCC and were in a great position to earn at least a share of the conference title. Fortunately, conference leader Grand View University was defeated as well tonight 77-72 by Mount Mercy College as Viterbo remains just a half-game back of a tie for first place.

Viterbo was unable to contain Clarke's three-point shooting as the Crusaders went 9-19 (47.4%) from behind the arc. Four players for the Crusaders contributed two or more three pointers as Cory Billingsley led the way connecting on three from long range. Billingsley's hot hand led the Crusaders with 30 points as he also went a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.

Viterbo held a 38-29 advantage at halftime before the Crusaders would explode for 54 second half points. Clarke College mounted their comeback when they went on a 14-4 run in the middle of the second half to take the 53-51 lead, the Crusaders first lead of the game. From this point on, the Crusaders had control of the game as they connected on 11 of their last 14 free throws sealing the unexpected victory for Clarke.

Along with Billingsley, Clarke had three players score in double figures with Eli Fitzsimons adding 16 points while going 6-11 from the field. Thomas Ammon and Travis Ferrell added 13 and 12 points respectively.

Viterbo was led by yet another double-double by Scott Buschman (Sr. - Naperville, Ill.). Buschman scored 23 points while adding 12 rebounds giving him 15 consecutive games with a double-double. Also scoring 23 points for the V-Hawks was Eric Ambrose (Sr. - Twin Lakes, Wis.) who went 9-23 from the field and also pulled down six rebounds.

The V-Hawks held a 39-27 rebounding edge over the Crusaders but Clarke College had a better night shooting. Clarke would go on to shoot 28-50 (56.0%) from the field and 9-19 (47.4%) from behind the three-point line compared to 27-58 (46.6%) from the field and just 3-15 (21.4%) from three point range by the V-Hawks.

Following the loss, Viterbo goes to 12-14 overall and 10-5 in the MCC. The win moves Clarke College to 6-23 overall and 3-12 in the MCC. Viterbo will play their last regular season game Saturday afternoon against William Penn University at the R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium as they still have an opportunity to earn a share of the regular season conference title.