Box Score
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Sophomore Brandon Motzel (Carmel Catholic HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) led a strong effort by Augustana's bench Wednesday night as the 13th-ranked Vikings remained tied for the CCIW lead with a 72-57 win over Millikin at Carver Center. Motzel had team highs of 13 points and seven rebounds as Coach Grey Giovanine's club improved to 15-2 overall and 5-1 in the conference. The Big Blue fell to 7-10 on the season and 1-5 in the league.
 
Augustana was red hot in the first half, connecting on 17 of its first 27 (.630) field goal attempts in racing to a 42-16 lead with 2:39 to go until halftime. Junior Dan Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) hit five of seven from the floor during that stretch, most coming in transition. Griffin Pils' (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) second three-pointer of the period gave the Vikings that 26-point advantage, but Millikin closed the half on an 11-0 run as the hosts missed five field goal attempts, two free throws and committed a pair of turnovers in the final 2:10 of the half.
 
The Big Blue maintained the momentum early in the second stanza as well. A Tives Gardner three-pointer with 15:09 remaining got the visitors within 10 at 46-36. When Gardner split a pair of free throws 35 seconds later, Millikin had outscored Augustana 21-4 over an eight-minute stretch and was as close as it had been (46-37) since midway through the first half.
 
However, the Vikings responded with a Kevin Schlitter (Maine South HS, Park Ridge, Ill.) basket, a Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) three-pointer and a put-back by Motzel to push the margin back to 16 at 53-37. It was never below 14 the rest of the way. With 58 seconds remaining and Augustana up by 19, Giovanine emptied his bench.
 
Motzel, who was a perfect four for four from the field and five of five at the line, wasn't the only productive Viking off the bench. Roth hit three of six three-point attempts and scored 11. Schlitter scored eight on four of four from the floor and Pils scored six on a pair of treys and led Augustana with four assists and three steals. Jurgutis was the only Viking starter in double digits, finishing with 10.
 
Defensively, the Vikings held Millikin, who played without leading scorer T.J. Griffin, to 17 of 44 (.386) from the field. Augustana also outrebounded the Big Blue 38-27 and committed 12 turnovers to 16 for the visitors.
 
Deavis Johnson led Millikin with game highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Jacob Kueker added 10 off the bench for the Big Blue.
 
The Vikings wrap up the first half of the league schedule on Saturday, January 25, traveling to Elmhurst to face the Bluejays in a 4:00 p.m. tilt. Elmhurst will be coming into that game fresh off tonight's win over previous CCIW co-leader Carthage.