Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Junior forward Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) led Augustana with 17 points, Tuesday, including two free throws with 11 seconds remaining that finally iced the Vikings' 78-73 win over MacMurray. Coach Grey Giovanine's squad, ranked second in the latest D3hoops.com poll, improved to 8-1 on the year, while the Highlanders fell to 1-7.
 
A three-pointer from Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) with 17:15 to play gave Augustana its biggest lead of the night at 56-42. However, MacMurray responded with a 12-0 run, getting a pair of Kollin Keltner threes and two Deavis Johnson layups to get within two. The Vikings tried to pull away again—going up 70-63 with 6:43 left on two Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) free throws—only to have the Highlanders answer with seven straight points, including five from Clayton Whitlock. Whitlock's conventional three-point play with 4:09 to play drew MacMurray even at 70-all.
 
After another Johnson free throw put the Vikings up 71-70, senior guard Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) came up big. First, he blocked a potential go-ahead layup by Dylan Guthrie, then he came up with a steal and layup of his own to put his club ahead 73-70. Junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) hit a jumper and one of two free throws for a 76-70 lead before a Deavis Johnson trey with 25 seconds left drew the Highlanders within three. Finally, Ryan was fouled with 11 seconds on the clock and converted both free throws to clinch the win.
 
The hosts bolted to an 8-0 lead behind three-pointers from Keltner and Guthrie. The first of back-to-back Ryan buckets finally got Augustana on the board after nearly four minutes. His conventional three-point play at the 11:35 mark of the first half drew the Vikings even for the first time at 10-10. A Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) three-pointer gave the visitors their first lead at 13-12.
 
MacMurray would regain the lead twice more—the final time at 30-29 on a Whitlock layup with 5:12 remaining in the first half. Hill answered with consecutive three-pointers and Augustana wouldn't trail again. The Vikings closed the half on an 11-2 run to go to the locker room with a 49-38 lead.
 
Ryan's game-high 17 points came on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the line. He also grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals. Hill (four assists) and Jurgutis (six of six free throws) each scored 14 and Johnson had 10, to go along with four steals. Junior Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) had game highs of 10 rebounds and three blocks. Augustana shot .453 from the floor (24 of 53), but .533 (eight of 15) from behind the arc and 22 of 27 (.815) from the free throw line. The Vikings outrebounded Highlanders 34-29 and committed 16 turnovers while forcing 18. MacMurray finished 29 of 58 (.500) from the floor, six of 16 (.375) from three-point range and nine of 13 (.692) from the line.
 
Giovanine's club will be idle nearly two weeks before playing again. Augustana will take on Luther at the Just a Game Holiday Shootout in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin on Monday, December 29. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Vikings face Coe at 5:30 p.m. the following day.