Jay Small drained a go-ahead three-pointer with 1:37 left to complete a late rally and defeat Viterbo 69-66 in the final game of the Pizza Ranch Classic played this afternoon at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern earned its third straight win and improved to 4-1 on the season heading into its GPAC opener Tuesday night against Mount Marty. 

Down by four (66-62) with 3:23 left to play, Northwestern scored the final seven points of the game and held Viterbo scoreless over the final three-plus minutes. Two free throws by Trent Hilbrands began the rally, cutting lead down to two (66-64) with 2:22 left. Following a missed three-pointer by Viterbo, the Red Raiders pushed the ball to Small, who knocked down a three-pointer from the right win, to put Northwestern up for good, 67-66. 

Both teams missed on scoring chances over the final 90 seconds; two free throws by Craig Sterk sealed the Red Raider win.

Sterk scored a game-high 23 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, coming off the Red Raiders bench. Hilbrands was also in double figures, scoring 16 to go with three assists. 

Northwestern shot 41% from the field, 30% (8/27) from the arc, and outrebounded Viterbo 45-33. 

The Red Raiders fell behind by double digits in the first half (27-13) but used a 17-3 surge to come back to tie the game at 30 with three minutes left in the opening half. Sterk scored 10 points during the run and Hilbrands added a three-pointer. Northwestern trailed 35-31 at the break.

Viterbo shot 39% for the game, 31% (11/36) from the arc. Noah Fredrickson led the V-Hawks with 19 points, followed by Tyree Young with 14.