Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – A scorching second half shooting performance led to a convincing 77-60 win over Illinois Wesleyan for third ranked Augustana on Wednesday, January 20 at the Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois. The Vikings came back from a 30-28 halftime deficit and they did it by blistering the nets to the tune of .593 (16-27).
 
In the first half, veteran head coach Grey Giovanine's charges shot just .333 (12-36) from the floor but that changed quickly in the opening moments of the second half. The homestanding Titans got a basket from Trevor Seibring on the opening possession of the final stanza to go up by four (32-28) with 19:48 left. The Vikings then made three straight shots, a layup by senior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.), a three pointer from senior Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) and a basket by senior Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) to lead by three 935-32) with barely over two minutes gone (17:58).
 
The Titans tied it at 35-35 on a three point field goal from Joel Pennington with 16:16 but senior Hunter Hill's (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) basket at 14:54 gave the Vikings a 37-35 lead. They would not relinquish it for the rest of the evening.
 
Midway through the second half Augustana led by just one (46-45) but senior Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) scored to spark a 10-3 run that ended with a three point basket from Pils with 9:05 left. Pils' bucket made it 56-48 in favor of the Vikings.
 
Augustana, which is currently ranked third in the latest NCAA Division III national poll, outscored the Titans 18-6 over the final 6:22 to salt the game away. In the final 2:04 of play the Vikings were good on eight of eight from the free throw line.
 
Ryan had a monster game inside, leading Augustana in scoring with 22 points on 10 of 22 from the floor and two of three at the charity stripe. He also pulled down nine rebounds. Motzel scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds while Pils chipped in with 11 points.
 
The Vikings pounded the Titans on the glass to the tune of a 41-29 margin. Hill and senior Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.) each had four assists while Pils and Ryan had three apiece. Augustana also committed just seven turnovers in the game while forcing Illinois Wesleyan to turn it over 18 times.
 
The Titans were led in scoring by Ryan Coyle with 17 points while Trevor Seibring had 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
Augustana, now 16-1 overall and 5-1 in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin, will host Millikin on Saturday, January 23 in the Carver Center. Illinois Wesleyan fell to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in the league.