Box Score
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – 13th-ranked Augustana used long-range sniping by Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) and Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) in the first half and a strong second-half performance by Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) inside to defeat North Park 73-58 at Carver Center Saturday. With the win, the Vikings from Rock Island move to 14-2 on the year and remain tied with Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage atop the CCIW standings at 4-1. The Vikings from Chicago dropped to 3-13 overall and 0-5 in the league.
 
The contest started roughly for the hosts. Augustana committed turnovers on each of its first four possessions as NPU led 4-0 more than three minutes in. A baseline jumper by Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) with 16:26 left in the half finally got the home team on the board, but Augustana turned it over three more times in the next three and a half minutes as North Park maintained its lead until the 11:40 mark. That's when Roth hit his second of four first-half three-pointers to finally put the hosts up 13-11.
 
A Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) jumper from the elbow and Hill's second trey of the half pushed the advantage to 18-11 with nine minutes left. Hill hit another three and Roth two more as Augustana survived 10 first-half turnovers to take a 32-24 edge into the locker room.
 
Augustana got its inside game going in the second half, hitting seven of its first eight field goal attempts of the period, all from inside the arc. The hosts didn't attempt their first three-pointer of the half until 12 minutes remained. Ryan scored eight points on four-of-four field goal shooting in those first eight minutes as Augustana took a 47-36 lead.
 
Four straight points by junior Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) gave the home team its biggest lead of the night at 56-39 with 8:51 remaining. However, freshman Juwan Henry scored 12 of North Park's next 17 points as the visitors cut the deficit to 62-56 with 2:51 to play.
 
Hill answered with a long three and then he and Johnson each went four of four from the line in the last 1:20 to salt away the victory for Augustana.
 
Hill led the hosts with 16 points, hitting four of seven from beyond the arc and all four of his free throws. He also finished with a game-high five assists. Roth hit five treys in nine attempts for 15 points. Ryan scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and grabbed seven rebounds for the game. Hoepfner led the hosts with eight boards.
 
Augustana hit 23 of 47 (.489) from the floor, including 13 of 22 (.591) in the second half. Coach Grey Giovanine's club also hit nine of 19 (.474) treys attempts and 18 of 25 at the line. The Blue and Gold outrebounded North Park by a 38-29 margin and ended up with 15 turnovers to 12 for the visitors.
 
Henry scored 24 of his game-high 28 after intermission and Aaron Weaver added 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for North Park.
 
Augustana will face Millikin in another CCIW matchup on Wednesday, January 22. Tip-off at Carver Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.