Box Score

WHITEWATER, Wis. – For the second night in a row Saturday, sophomore Chrishawn Orange (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) hit a shot just before the final buzzer to lift Augustana to an NCAA Tournament victory. Orange's 12-foot jumper from the right side with a second left gave the Vikings a 72-70 win over 22nd-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater at Kachel Gymnasium. Coach Grey Giovanine's squad, now 21-8 on the year, advances to the round of 16, where it will face a red-hot Wartburg outfit on Friday, March 10 at a site to be determined. The host Warhawks finished their season with a record of 22-7.
 
A night after rallying from an eight-point deficit in the final 40 seconds to win over St. Thomas, it looked like the tables might be turned on Augustana Saturday. Chris Jones' runner in the lane with 21 seconds left drew Whitewater even at 70-all, erasing what had been a 70-62 Viking lead with 1:55 remaining.
 
Nolan Ebel (Regis Jesuit HS, Denver, Colo.) took the ensuing inbounds pass and brought the ball to midcourt. As the clock hit eight seconds, Orange took the ball from Ebel, drove right and pulled up from about 12 feet. His shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net and the Warhawks' desperation shot at the buzzer was off the mark.
 
Both teams were on fire at the outset. Whitewater hit its first three shots, including a Scotty Tyler dunk on the first possession of the game. Augustana hit its first six field goals attempts, including four by junior Dylan Sortillo (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, Iowa), who bounced back from Friday's 3-for-14 shooting performance with a career-high 28 points. Brett Benning's (Dakota HS, Davis, Ill.) layup gave the visitors an early 14-8 lead.
 
Senior Jacob Johnston (Erie HS, Cordova, Ill.) split a pair of free throws at the 2:37 mark to give the Vikings their biggest lead of the half, 39-31. Orange's three-point attempt at the halftime buzzer was just off the mark and Augustana took a 39-34 lead to the locker room. Sortillo tallied 18 in the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Warhawks opened the second stanza with three-pointers by Jones and Demetrius Woodley and a Drew Bryson layup to take a 42-39 lead. Woodley's layup with 15:50 to play gave the hosts their biggest lead at 47-41. However, Benning hit two three-pointers and a field goal in a 10-2 Viking run that regained the lead at 51-49. Another Woodley layup at 10:13 pulled Whitewater into a 58-all tie—the last one until Jones tied it with 21 seconds left—but Augustana answered with six straight points.
 
With two and a half minutes left, confusion over a one-and-one versus two-shot foul situation resulted in Augustana getting the ball on the alternate possession arrow. Sortillo took advantage, draining a trey from the left corner to put the Vikings up 69-62. Orange split two free throws following a bench technical on UWW with 1:57 to play, making it 70-62 and setting the stage for the Warhawks' comeback.
 
In addition to Sortillo's 28, Orange and Benning added a dozen points each. Johnston grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and freshman Donovan Ferguson (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) seven. Ebel dished out a game-high five assists to go with eight points and two steals. Jones and Woodley led Whitewater with 22 and 17 points, respectively.
 
Augustana shot .517 from the floor on 30 of 58. The Vikings were seven of 15 (.467) from beyond the arc, but just five of 10 (.500) at the foul line. UWW hit 26 of 57 (.456) field goal attempts, including 10 of 25 (.400) from long range. The Warhawks also struggled from the free throw line, converting just eight of 18 (.444). Augustana outrebounded its hosts 35-30 and committed 13 turnovers to 10 for Whitewater.