Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill. – If there were any questions as to how Augustana would handle itself after losing its first game of the 2015-16 season they were answered in a big way on Saturday, January 9 in Chicago during a 79-66 win over College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin foe North Park. The Vikings used sizzling shooting in the first half and a dominance on the boards in the second half to bounce back after a hard-fought 77-75 loss in overtime at fifth ranked Elmhurst on Wednesday, January 6.
 
In the first half of the game on Saturday in the cozy confines of the North Park Gymnasium, the Vikings scorched the nets to the tune of .593 (16-27) shooting. The led to a 38-29 lead at intermission, despite the fact that North Park was able to outrebound Augustana 20-18. When veteran head coach Grey Giovanine's charges cooled off a bit from the field in the second 20 minutes (.481 on 13-27), the rebounding margin flipped in favor of the visitors. The second half saw Augustana hold a 25-17 edge on the backboards.
 
When Giovanine cleared his bench with about five minutes to go in the game the contest had long been decided. A single free throw by freshman Pierson Wofford (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield, Ill.) with 4:45 left to play gave Augustana a 79-49 advantage. That would be the last point the Vikings would score as North Park closed out the game on a 17-0 run to make the final margin just 13 points (79-66).
 
After North Park opened the second half with a basket from Colin Lake to cut the lead to seven (38-31) in the opening minute, Augustana asserted itself. The Vikings went on a 12-1 run over the next three and a half minutes and when senior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) scored a basket with 15:45 left the margin had ballooned to 18 (50-32).  From that point on it never got lower than 13 points (52-39 at 13:33).
 
Balanced scoring was the key as four players ended the game in double figures for Augustana. Senior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) led the way with 19 points while Hill added 14. Senior Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) scored 12 and senior Brandon Motzel (Carmel Catholic HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.) chipped in with 11. Motzel also led all rebounders with 10 and had two blocked shots. In all, a total of 10 players scored for the Vikings.
 
Augustana's defense limited North Park to just .328 (21-64) shooting from the floor and only .368 (7-19) from three point range. North Park got 17 points each from Juwan Henry and Jordan Robinson but the duo was just a combined 11 of 33 from the field. Robinson (22.6) and Henry (22.0) were one-two in scoring in the CCIW heading into the game.
 
The Vikings will host North Central on Wednesday, January 13 in a CCIW battle starting at 7:00 p.m.