CHICAGO, Ill. – Augustana shot a season-best .682 from the field Saturday on its way to a 109-64 win at North Park. The third-ranked Vikings improved to 13-1 overall and 5-0 in the CCIW. NPU fell to 4-11

on the season and 2-4 in the conference.
 
North Park achieved its only tie of the night when Izaiah Sanders answered a Brett Benning (Dakota HS, Davis, Ill.) bucket to make it 2-2 30 seconds in. Junior Pierson Wofford (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield, Ill.) scored a few seconds later and Augustana had the lead for good.
 
With 14:29 left in the first half, Matt Szuba converted all three free throws after being fouled on a trey attempt, pulling NPU to within 14-8. However, Coach Grey Giovanine's crew answered with a 13-2 over the next three minutes. Wofford, Nolan Ebel (Regis Jesuit HS, Denver, Colo.) and Austin Elledge (Highland HS, Highland, Ill.) each hit a three-pointer during the spurt.
 
North Park would get no closer than 14 points during the rest of the half and Chrishawn Orange's (Jacobs HS, Algonquin, Ill.) three-pointer at the buzzer sent Augustana to the locker room with a 53-32 advantage.
 
Orange and junior Micah Martin (Iowa City HS, Iowa City, Iowa) each scored six points as the guests scored the first 12 points of the second half. Orange's third fast break layup in the first three minutes of the period gave the Vikings a 65-32 lead.
 
Giovanine subbed out the last of his starters with 5:38 to play when the margin ballooned to 40 (97-57) on a pair of Joe Kellen (Rockford Lutheran HS, Rockford, Ill.) free throws. The final spread of 45 points was the largest of the evening.
 
Augustana shot .759 from the field in the second half, marking the third time in the last five contests the Vikings have shot better than 75% after halftime.
 
Martin shared game-high honors in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. His career-high 20 points came on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor and he collected seven rebounds and had two blocks. Orange shot 9-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc to match Martin's 20 points. Wofford equaled his rebound and block totals and junior Roman Youngblut (Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) also swatted a pair of shots. Ebel had an outstanding all-around effort with 15 points, six rebounds and nine assists in just 21 minutes on the floor. Kellen added 10 points off the bench.
 
For the game, Augustana shot 45 of 66 from the floor, including eight of 19 (.421) from beyond the arc. The Vikings were an uncharacteristic 11 of 21 (.524) from the foul line, but dominated the boards to the tune of 45-16, while holding North Park to .390 (23-59) shooting from the field and .333 (7-21) from long range. The hosts hit 11 of 15 (.733) from the charity stripe and each team turned the ball over just 10 times.
 
Augustana's 11th straight win sets up a CCIW showdown between Giovanine's first-place squad and second-place Elmhurst (9-5, 4-1) on Wednesday, January 9. The Vikings and Bluejays—who suffered their first league loss at North Central Saturday—are scheduled to tipoff in Faganel Hall at 7:00.