Box Score

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Augustana made just enough free throws late in the game to hold off a late surge by Coe and pick up a 71-66 victory on Tuesday, December 30 at Just-A-Game Field House in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The Vikings built a big lead early in the contest and rode the scoring of juniors Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) and Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) to pick up the victory.
 
The game was tied 16-16 midway through the first half (9:45) after the Kohawks' Matt Vonderhaar scored. Over the next 2:22 Augustana went on a 9-0 run to go up 25-16 with a layup by junior Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) ending the spurt.  The Vikings maintained that margin for the rest of the half and went into the locker room at intermission with a 10-point lead (34-24).
 
In the second half it was more of the same for veteran head coach Grey Giovanine's crew and after a basket by Ben Ryan at 15:55 the lead was 15 (46-31).  With 13:14 to go the margin was 13 (49-36) after a single free throw by Johnson.
 
Coe chipped away at the lead and a free throw by Christian Fahey at 6:35 narrowed the gap to just three points (60-57) as the Kohawks ended a 21-11 run. Augustana would score just 11 points the rest of the way but nine of those came from the free throw line to keep Coe from making a serious charge. The Kohawks cut the margin to three points (66-63) with 1:19 to play but neither team scored for over a minute until Hill dropped in a pair of free throws with just :14 remaining to bump the margin to five (68-63).
 
Johnson hit one free throw with seven seconds left to make it a six point lead (69-63) before Coe's Max Schmarzo tossed in a three pointer with :04 left to cut it to three (69-66). With one second left on the clock senior Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) hit two free throws to account for the final margin of 71-66.
 
Hill led the Vikings in scoring with 21 points, including a 10 for 10 performance from the free throw line. He also had two assists and three steals. Ryan scored 20 points with five rebounds and Johnson added 13 points and four rebounds.
 
Augustana shot .500 (22-44) from the floor and once again held its turnover count in single digits at nine. The Vikings were remarkably consistent from the field, making 11 of 22 shots in each half. However, they were outrebounded by a 36-30 margin.
 
Coe got 16 points each from Matt Daoust and Max Schmarzo and Jacob Timm led all rebounders with seven.
 
Augustana, ranked second in the latest NCAA Division III national poll, is now 10-1 overall heading into Saturday's College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin opener at Carthage (7:30 p.m. tip-off). Coe is now 5-5 overall.