Box Score

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Third-ranked Augustana bolted to a 33-2 lead Wednesday on its way to a 76-49 win over 25th-ranked North Central at Carver Center. Freshman Chrishawn Orange (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) tallied a career-high 18 points as the Vikings improved to 14-1 overall and pulled into a three-way tie for second place in the CCIW at 3-1. The Cardinals dropped to 10-5 on the season and are now tied with Augustana and Illinois Wesleyan at 3-1 in the league.
 
Viking senior Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) drained a corner three on the opening possession of the game and Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) scored to make it 5-0 two minutes in.  North Central freshman Connor Raridon hit a short baseline jumper at the 17:15 mark, but those would be the last points for the Cardinals for more than 14 minutes.
 
After a pair of Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) baskets, Orange's big night started with a conventional three-point play that extended the Augustana lead to 12-2. He added another jumper just past the midway point of the first half to make it 20-2. A Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) put-back with 8:17 to play made it 24-2 before Orange drilled three consecutive treys in a span of just over two minutes. The third, with 4:08 left in the half, swelled the margin to 33-2.
 
Meanwhile, North Central missed 20 consecutive field goal attempts following Raridon's bucket and was one of 26 (.038) from the floor before freshman Aiden Chang got the lid off the basket at the 3:09 mark. Chang's hoop sparked a 12-4 Cardinal run to end the half, but the Vikings took a 37-14 lead to the locker room.
 
North Central cut the deficit to 42-24 on a Raridon three with 15:12 left, but that's as close as the visitors would get in the second half. Hill answered with a trey of his own and scored 12 points in nine minutes as Augustana pushed the advantage back to 26 (65-39) with five and a half minutes remaining. Coach Grey Giovanine cleared his bench with three minutes left.
 
Orange's 18 points came on six-of-nine shooting from the field, including three of three from beyond the arc. Hill hit both of his trey attempts and finished with 16 points, a game-high three assists and no turnovers. Sophomore Dylan Sortillo (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa) came off the bench for 10 points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists. Senior Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) snared a game-high 10 boards to go along with seven points and Johnson grabbed eight rebounds as well. Raridon (18) and Chang (10) were the only Cardinals in double figures.
 
The Vikings shot .474 from the field on 27 of 57 and knocked down eight of 13 (.615) three-point attempts. They struggled to a 14-of-23 (.609) performance at the free throw line. North Central finished the contest just 17 of 66 (.258) from the field, seven of 25 (.280) from long range and eight of 14 (.571) from the foul line. Augustana won the battle of the boards 49-40.
 
On Saturday, Giovanine's crew travels to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on Carthage. Tip-off at Tarble Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.