ALMA Mich. – Third-ranked Augustana used a 16-1 run late in the first half to grab the lead Friday and went on to defeat Alma 85-74 at Art Smith Arena. The contest was the regular season opener for both

teams. Coach Grey Giovanine's club will be back in action on Saturday, November 17 against Calvin in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
 
With the exception of ties at 6-6 and 16-all, the hosts led for the first 17 minutes. The Scots' Ryan Stevens hit two free throws to put his team up 36-30 with 2:59 left before halftime, but senior Brett Benning (Dakota HS, Davis, Ill.) answered with a bucket that started the Vikings' big push.
 
A blocked shot by junior Micah Martin (Iowa City HS, Iowa City, Iowa) on Alma's next possession led to a Pierson Wofford (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield., Ill.) conventional three-point play and Benning drilled a three-pointer at the 1:58 mark to give Augustana its first lead (38-36) of the night. A Nolan Ebel (Regis Jesuit HS, Denver, Colo.) three-pointer, a Chrishawn Orange (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) jumper and Ebel's three free throws after being fouled on a trey attempt finished a 16-1 spurt over a span of just 2:06 that left the visitors on top 46-37.
 
Kyle Woodruff's layup 11 seconds before halftime cut Alma's deficit to 46-39 at the break.
 
The Vikings kept the Scots at arm's length for much of the second half, but couldn't put Alma away until the final minutes. An Orange jumper with 15:33 to play extended the margin to double digits for the first time at 54-44. It was still at 10 (61-51) following a Benning jumper with 11:17 left, but the Scots went on an 8-1 run to get to within 62-59.
 
Alma still trailed just 68-63 after a Kevin Gamble basket with 7:33 remaining, but Orange had consecutive field goals to extend Augustana's lead to 72-63 and the margin wouldn't dip below nine the rest of the way. Ebel's old-fashioned three-point play just inside two minutes gave the Vikings their biggest lead of the night at 83-68.
 
Giovanine had four players score in double figures. Ebel led the way with 21, including a 10-of-10 effort from the free throw line. Benning shot 7-of-12 from the field to score 18, along with nine rebounds. Orange tallied 14 and Wofford delivered a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Stevens led the Scots with 22 points, while Cole Kleiver added 17 and Gamble 13.
 
Augustana shot .492 (32-65) from the floor, .333 (4-12) from long range and .739 (17-23) from the free throw line. Alma hit 23 of 65 (.354) field goal attempts, seven of 21 (.333) from beyond the arc and 21 of 26 (.808) free throws. The Vikings dominated the boards by a 51-31 margin, but committed 16 turnovers to just seven for the Scots.