Box Score

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Senior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) became the second Viking in as many games to join the 1,000-point club and classmate Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) helped preserve a late lead with a key steal as top-ranked Augustana survived a scare at 20th-ranked Washington University Saturday. The Vikings overcame a eight-point deficit in the final 10 minutes to claim a 70-67 victory. Coach Grey Giovanine's club improved to 5-0 on the season, while the host Bears suffered just their second loss in eight outings.

Washington outscored Augustana 27-7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half, erasing a 42-32 halftime deficit and taking a 59-51 lead. Baskets by Johnson and Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) started the Vikings' comeback. A steal and layup by Johnson with just under six minutes to play drew his team within 61-58 and a conventional three-point play by Hill at the 5:20 mark pulled Augustana even at 61-all. A Jacob Johnston (Erie HS, Cordova, Ill.) layup and four Hill free throws over the next two minutes completed a 12-0 Viking run, resulting in a 67-61 lead.

Buckets by Bears Clinton Hooks and Luke Lloyd-Silverman cut the Augustana lead to 67-65 and after a fourth straight defensive stop, Washington had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final 20 seconds. However, Johnson overplayed his man in the post and intercepted Hooks' entry pass with 13 seconds left. Hill knocked down three of four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the win. The first of those three was the 1,000th point of Hill's career.

The visitors roared to a 19-5 lead barely five minutes in, as Ryan scored four and Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) and Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) three each.

Washington responded with seven straight points however and the lead bounced between seven and 12 points until an 8-0 Bear run got them within 34-32 with 2:22 to play in the first half. The Vikings closed the half with an 8-0 run of their own though and took a 42-32 lead to the locker room.

The tide turned quickly in the second half and a Hooks three-pointer with 13:33 to play drew the Bears even (51-51) for the first time since 0-0. Jake Knupp's layup with 10:05 to play gave Washington its biggest lead of the night at 59-51.

Hill and Hooks shared game-high scoring honors with 20 each. Hill added a career-high seven assists. Ryan chipped in with 14 points and a career-best 14 rebounds. Johnson scored nine, grabbed eight boards, came away with five steals and blocked a pair of shots.

Augustana was outshot .474 to .421 from the floor in the game. The Vikings were five of 17 (.294) from beyond the arc to four of 15 (.267) for the Bears. Augustana's .810 (17-21) performance from the free throw line as well as a 39-33 advantage on the boards helped pull out the win. Giovanine's crew committed an uncharacteristic 15 turnovers, while forcing 14.

The Vikings will back at Carver Center for the final time this calendar year on Tuesday, December 15. Former Augustana assistant coach Todd Creal will bring his MacMurray Highlanders in for a 7:00 p.m. tip.