Box Score ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) led the way with 16 points Saturday as Augustana celebrated Senior Night with a 69-47 win over Carthage at Carver Center. Hill was one of eight Vikings seniors were honored before the game. The win bumped the team's season record to 21-1 and its league-leading CCIW mark to 10-1. The visiting Red Men fell to 8-14 overall and 2-9 in the conference.
 
In addition to Hill, Augustana feted veterans Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.), Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.), Jawan Straughter (Plainfield East HS, Bolingbrook, Ill.), Brandon Motzel (Carmel HS, Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.), Jake Gylten (Iowa City West HS, North Liberty, Iowa) and Jake Norcia (Highland Park HS, Highland Park, Ill.). Those eight have helped lead the Vikings to a sterling record of 87-22 in three-plus seasons. This year's 21-1 start equals the program's best ever for the first 22 games, matching 1972-73 and 2010-11.
 
Motzel and Straughter joined Hill in double figures Saturday, with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Motzel also snared a game-high nine rebounds. Augustana shot .527 (29 of 55) from the field, including a combined 25 of 37 (.676) by the seniors. Hill connected on six of nine (4-6 from beyond the arc), Motzel seven of nine, Straughter five of eight and Ryan three of five. Johnson hit all three of his attempts from the field—including a pair of dunks—and has now converted 15 of his last 16. The Viking defense was even more impressive, limiting Carthage to .276 (16 of 58) shooting from the floor and just .190 (four of 21) from beyond the arc. No Red Men reached double figures in scoring.

Ryan's three-pointer from the right wing at the 16:40 mark of the first half gave Augustana the lead for good at 7-4. Hill followed with a three and then split two defenders for a spectacular transition layup that put the Vikings up 12-4. Johnson's jumper from the left side with 13:45 left in the half pushed the margin to double digits at 17-7 and his dunk off a tremendous feed from Straughter gave the hosts a 36-18 lead at the half.
 
The margin continued to grow in the second half, reaching its largest of the night at 29 (52-23) on a Michael Hoekstra (Bishop McNamara HS, Saint Anne, Ill.) free throw with 11:05 to play. The lead never fell below 26 points until the final minute, as the Red Men scored the game's last seven points.
 
The Vikings will play their final regular season home game on Wednesday, February 10. Illinois Wesleyan visits Carver Center for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.