Box Score DUBUQUE, Iowa – An upset-minded Loras team held two of Augustana's leading scorers without points but sophomore Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) carried the load and the 19th ranked Vikings held off the Duhawks 67-65 on Wednesday, December 4 in Dubuque, Iowa. Loras came into the game with victories over two teams (Illinois Wesleyan and Wheaton) ranked in the top 15 of the latest NCAA Division III national poll.
 
Holding junior Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) and sophomore Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) scoreless seemed to bode well for the Duhawks. However, Hill came up big with a career-high 23 point explosion to lead the way. He was nine of 13 from the floor, two of three from three point range and a perfect three of three from the free throw line in 29 minutes. He also added four assists, three rebounds and a steal to his statistical line.
 
The Vikings got in front early and led by 12 points (19-7) after a basket by sophomore Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) with 9:18 left in the first half. Loras, which had four players in double figures on the night, whittled away at the lead and by halftime the advantage was down to five points (33-28) after a basket by Aaron Schueller to close out the scoring.
 
Augustana scorched the nets in the first half, hitting on 14 of 21 shots from the field for .667. The Vikings cooled some in the second half but still managed to shoot .532 (25-47) for the game.
 
It looked as if the visitors might put Loras away with a 9-0 run midway through the second half that stretched a one point lead to a 10 point cushion (60-50) with 8:19 left in the game. Junior Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) had seven of the Vikings' nine points in that spurt.
 
The Duhawks clawed back in the game, however and with just :43 left a three point basket by Alex Cline cut the led to two (65-63). After an Augustana turnover 10 seconds later, Loras had a chance to tie the contest or take the lead but Schueller's three point attempt failed to go down and Johnson jumped over a crowd and pulled down the rebound. He was fouled and with three seconds remaining he calmly knocked down both free throws to make it 67-63. Schueller scored a layup at the buzzer to account for the final score.
 
Besides Hill, Johnson and junior Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) were also in double figures. Johnson had 14 points and six rebounds while Hoepfner scored 12 points and hauled in four boards. Augustana won the rebounding battle by a fairly narrow 30-26 margin.
 
Bobby Harmening led Loras, now 3-3 on the year, in scoring with 13 points while Cline and Ryan Coon each had 12 and Schueller scored 10.
 
Augustana is not in action again until hosting Central of Iowa on Wednesday, December 11 in the Carver Center. The win over Loras pushed the Vikings to 5-1 on the season and it was the fifth straight game away from home for head coach Grey Giovanine's team.