LA CROSSE, Wis. - Davion Watson scored 21 points Thursday night as the  Mount Mercy men's basketball team trimmed Viterbo, 74-73, in the NAIA  season opener in La Crosse.

The Mustangs built a 14-point lead at 61-47 with 11:11 remaining on a  3-pointer by Streeter McIlravey, but Viterbo rallied and pulled within  74-73 on a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left.

Mount Mercy committed a turnover on its next possession, giving  Viterbo a shot for the victory, but the hosts missed a 3-pointer with  one second left to play.

Dennis McKinney scored 12 points for the Mustangs and Keishun Thomas  had 10. Bailey Basala grabbed seven rebounds and RoyShawn Webb had  four assists.

Tyree Young led Viterbo with 20 points. Noah Frederickson scored 19  and Jack Monis 16.

MOUNT MERCY (74): Davion Watson 8-12 3-3 21, Dennis McKinney 4-12 2-3  12, Bailey Basala 3-6 0-0 8, RoyShawn Webb 2 2-2 6, Davarea Loggins 2  0-0 5, Keishun Thomas 2 4-4 10, Streeter McIlravey 2 0-0 6, Christian  Reischauer 2 0-0 4, DJ Johnson 0 2-2 2. Totals 25-54 13-14 74.

VITERBO (73): Tyree Young 9-19 0-0 20, Noah Frederickson 7 0-0 19,  Jack Monis 8 0-0 16, Lowden Rockweiler 3 0-0 7, Robert Cunitz 0 2-2 2,  Jesse Kutz 2 0-1 4, Alex Clement 1 0-0 3, Nicholas Malovrh 1 0-0 2,  Brady Polk 0 0-0 0. Totals 31-76 2-3 73.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 42, Viterbo 37. 3-pointers - Mount Mercy 11  (Watson 2, McKinney 2, Basala 2, Thomas 2, McIlravey 2, Loggins 1),  Viterbo 9 (Frederickson 5, Young 2, Rockweiler 1, Clement 1).