MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Third-ranked Augustana rode an incredible second-half shooting performance to a 90-64 win over previously unbeaten Centre Monday at Mallory Gymnasium. The victory at the Rhodes

Holiday Classic lifted the Vikings to 9-1 on the season, while the Colonels suffered their first setback in nine outings this year.
 
Augustana led 35-31 after a tightly-played first half and Jacob Bates' bucket 10 seconds into the second half drew Centre to within 35-33. However, senior Nolan Ebel (Regis Jesuit HS, Denver, Colo.) answered with a three-pointer and another basket and junior Pierson Wofford (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield, Ill.) added a layup that gave the Vikings their biggest lead to that point at 42-33.
 
The margin was still just five (49-44) after an Art Walker three-pointer with 12:18 to play, but senior Chrishawn Orange (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) responded with one of his own and Augustana would outscore the Colonels 41-20 over the final 12:02 of the contest. Coach Grey Giovanine's crew missed just two shots during that time and finished the half 21 of 26 (.808) from the field, including eight of nine (.889) from beyond the arc. The Vikings also converted all five of their free throw attempts in the second half.
 
Augustana didn't grab its first lead until the 10:32 mark of the first half, when a pair of Wofford free throws put the Vikings up 13-12. A Donovan Ferguson (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) layup and a Jack Jelen (Bay HS, Bay Village, Ohio) three-pointer extended the advantage to 18-12.
 
Centre eventually trimmed the deficit to two, but Ebel scored five points in a 9-4 Augustana run that bumped its lead to seven—the largest of the half. Ebel's two freebies 2:17 before halftime put the Vikings up 35-28, but the Colonels got a Dawson Crump free throw and a Perry Ayers layup in the final minute to trail just 35-31 at the break.
 
For the game, Augustana set season highs for points, field goal percentage (.648 on 35 of 54), three-pointers and three-point percentage (11 of 20, .550), free throw percentage (.900 on nine of 10) and assists (21). The Vikings won the battle of the boards 30-22 and committed 14 turnovers to 11 for Centre. They limited the Colonels to 21 of 58 (.362) shooting from the floor and four of 13 (.308) from beyond the arc. Centre hit 18 of 25 (.720) from the foul line.
 
Individually, Ebel hit eight of 11 shots, including five of seven three-point tries and finished with a game-high 23 points. Orange and Wofford each tallied 13 and senior Brett Benning (Dakota HS, Davis, Ill.) added 10. Orange grabbed a game-high six rebounds and dished out five assists. Wofford's six assists were a game high and junior Lucas Simon (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with five. Ferguson blocked three shots.
 
Bates, with 11 points, was the only Colonel to score in double figures.
 
On Tuesday, December 18, Augustana will complete play at the Rhodes Holiday Classic, taking on the host Lynx with tipoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m.