Box Score

WHEATON, Ill. – Playing a near-flawless first half, Augustana secured the 2014-15 outright College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men's basketball title with a 89-55 victory over Wheaton on Saturday, February 21 at King Arena. The Vikings won the CCIW championship for the 14^th time in school history and the sixth time in head coach Grey Giovanine's tenure (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20011 and now 2015).
 
It was the first win for Augustana at Wheaton since the 2010-11 season and this one was never in doubt as the Vikings bolted to an 8-0 lead before the game was three minutes old. It was 19-2 (15:27), 31-8 (10:19) and 40-17 (5:58) at various points in the first half before Augustana took a 50-26 margin into the locker room at halftime.
 
The carnage continued in the second half as Giovanine's team put on a 23-5 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half. When senior Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) drained two free throws with 10:34 remaining the lead was 42 points (73-31). It hovered around the 40 point mark until finally ending with Augustana enjoying a 34 point win (89-55) in the final regular season contest of 2014-15.
 
Offensively and defensively, this was clearly the Vikings' night. They shot .574 (35-61) from the floor for the game, including a sizzling .656 (21-32) in the first half. On the other side, Augustana held Wheaton to just .333 (19-57) from the floor. The Vikings also held a commanding 38-28 lead in the rebounding department.
 
Junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.), who got things rolling with a three pointer off Augustana's first offensive possession of the game, led the way with 18 points. He was six of 10 from the floor, including four of six from three point range, and two of two from the free throw line. He grabbed four rebounds and had six assists without turning the ball over.
 
Three other Vikings were in double figures in scoring with junior Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) scoring 13 on six of eight from the field and one of one from the free throw line. Fellow junior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) scored 12 and was also six of eight from the floor. He hauled in a team high 10 rebounds as well. Junior Brandon Motzel (Carmel Catholic HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) dropped in 12 points by going five of eight from the field and two of two from the free throw line. Motzel had two rebounds and two blocked shots.
 
Wheaton got 18 points from Brayden Teuscher in the loss.
 
Augustana, ranked eighth in the latest NCAA Division III national poll, moved to 21-4 overall and 11-3 in the CCIW. It should be noted that each time the Vikings have won the conference title during Giovanine's tenure they have gone 11-3 in the league.
 
The Vikings will host the CCIW tournament on February 27-28 in the Carver Center and the first round opponent will be North Central. The Cardinals clinched the fourth spot in the tournament with an 82-72 win at home over North Park. Augustana and North Central split on the season with each team winning on the other's home court. The Vikings and the Cardinals will play the 7:00 p.m. game on Friday, February 27 with the winner facing the winner of the first semi-final pitting Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan at 5:00 p.m. The championship game will be Saturday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m.