Box Score

PELLA, Iowa – Augustana fell under a barrage of three point field goals by Central on Wednesday, December 3, losing 89-78 in Pella, Iowa in non-conference basketball action. It was the first loss of the season for veteran head coach Grey Giovanine's team. The Vikings, who had been the number one ranked team in NCAA Division III dropped to 5-1 on the season while the Dutch moved to 3-1.
 
It was long-distance gunnery by the hosts that did Augustana in for the first time this season. Central launched 40 three point field goal attempts, making 16. The chief culprit was Nile Eckermann who connected on six of 12 from long range to account for all 18 of his points. The leading scorer for Central was Colby Taylor with 23 points. Taylor made five of 12 from three point range and finished the game seven of 14 from the field and a perfect four of four from the free throw line.
 
The Dutch had five players in double figures. Besides Taylor's 23 and Eckermann's 18, Kyle Newendorp hit for 15 while Aaron Rosenstiel and Kyle Smith each scored 10. Rosenstiel was nearly perfect from the free throw line with eight of nine.
 
The Vikings led during the early going but Central eventually led by as many as nine (46-37) in the first half before settling for a seven point margin (49-42) at halftime. Augustana junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) nailed a three point field goal with just six seconds remaining before intermission to make it a four point game (46-42) but Eckermann countered with a three point field goal at the buzzer for a seven point margin (49-42) at the break.
 
Early in the second half Augustana used a pair of baskets by junior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.), a layup by Hill and a basket by senior Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) to grab a 50-49 lead with 17:23 left in the game.
 
However, Rosenstiel hit two free throws at 17:08 to put the hosts in front 51-50 and after an Augustana turnover, Taylor nailed a three pointer to make it 54-50 with 16:33 remaining. That sparked a 12-2 run by the Dutch and after Taylor hit two free throws with 13:33 left the margin was nine points (61-52).
 
After Central got the margin into double digits (65-54) at 10:58, the Vikings managed to trim the lead to just three (65-62) with 8:59 left on a three point field goal by Hill. Eckermann answered with a three pointer of his own at 8:21 and the lead was up to six (68-62). Eventually it would reach 13 twice before the final ended up as an 11 point game (89-78).
 
The Dutch, who connected on 19 of 23 free throws in the game, made eight straight free throws in the final 1:29 to seal the victory.
 
Hill led Augustana in scoring with 20 points while Hoepfner had 17 and junior Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) ended with 16. Ryan tossed in 12. The Vikings held a narrow 35-34 edge in rebounding with Ryan and Hoepfner each grabbing eight to tie for the team lead.
 
Augustana shot .444 (28-63) from the field for the game but could connect on only .361 (13-36) in the second half.
 
The Vikings will host Fontbonne on Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Carver Center.