Box Score

ELMHURST, Ill. – In a battle between a pair of nationally ranked teams, Augustana survived an overtime encounter at Elmhurst on Wednesday, January 28 to pick up a 77-73 road win against the Bluejays. The Vikings were forced into the extra period when Elmhurst's Bryant Ackerman tied the game (64-64) on a driving layup with just one second left in regulation.
 
After falling behind early in the overtime when the Bluejays got a bucket from Kyle Wuest at 4:40 to make it 66-64, Augustana battled back. Junior Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) answered Wuest with a three point field goal at 4:15 to make it 67-66 in favor of the visitors. Elmhurst countered with a three point field goal from Peyton Wyatt at 3:53 to go ahead 69-67 and then Ackerman made one of two free throws to put the lead at 70-67 with 3:20 to go.
 
Enter Straughter again as he drilled a three point field goal with 3:04 to tie the contest at 70-70. A layup from junior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) at 2:27 made it 72-70 in favor of the Vikings. Wuest's basket at 1:52 tied the game for the seventh and final time at 72-72.
 
Junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) gave Augustana the lead for good with a basket at :51 to make it 74-72. Wuest hit just one of two free throws with :33 left to make it a one point game (74-73). Augustana worked the clock and with :15 left senior Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) hit two free throws to make it 76-73.
 
With :10 left Ackerman was fouled but missed both free throws and Straughter rebounded the second miss and was fouled with :07 left on the clock. He made one of two free throws and Augustana was able to hold on for the huge road win.
 
Heading into the game the Vikings were ranked fourth in the latest NCAA Division III national ranking according to D3hoops.com while Elmhurst was 16^th.  Augustana led 40-29 at halftime and had an 11 point advantage (61-50) as late as 6:28 in regulation after senior Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) made one of two free throws. However, the Bluejays closed the game on a 14-3 run to force the overtime.
 
Five Vikings finished in double figures with junior Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) leading the way with 16 points. Motzel hit seven of 10 shots from the field, including a three pointer, and was perfect on his only free throw attempt. He also snared eight rebounds and had two assists and one blocked shot. Hoepfner scored 12 points and had six boards while Hill and Straughter scored 11 each. Junior Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) tallied 10 points and had six rebounds. Ryan scored seven points but tied Motzel for the team lead in rebounding with eight.
 
Augustana shot .424 (28-66) from the floor for the game but made four of six shots in overtime. The Vikings also made 15 of 20 free throws and that proved to be the difference as Elmhurst could only convert on 14 of 24. The Bluejays got 14 points each from Ackerman and Erik Crittenden.
 
With the victory Augustana goes to 17-2 overall and 7-1 in the CCIW while Elmhurst falls to 15-4 and 5-3. The Vikings will travel to Chicago on Saturday, January 31 to face North Park at 7:00 p.m.