ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana scored the first four points of overtime Saturday and held on for a 65-63 win over Carroll in the Vikings' CCIW opener at Carver Center. The victory was the 500th in the collegiate coaching career of Grey Giovanine and moved Augustana to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the league. The visiting Pioneers suffered just their second loss in nine outings this year and fell to 1-1 in the conference.
 
Luke Johnson's (Longmont HS, Longmont, Colo.) runner from the right baseline with 12:45 to play in regulation gave the Vikings a seemingly-comfortable 45-30 lead—their biggest of the night. However, Carroll went on a 23-8 run over the next 8½ minutes, pulling even at 53-all on a Nick Penny three-pointer from the top of the key at the 4:14 mark. It was the game's first tie since 0-0. Two minutes later, Tarren Hall's layup gave the Pioneers their first lead of the night at 55-54.
 
Jack Jelen (Bay HS, Bay Village, Ohio) drove the lane for a layup at the 35-second mark that put the hosts back in front 56-55 and after a defensive stop, added two free throws to extend the margin to three. After a Carroll layup, Austin Elledge (Highland HS, Highland, Ill.) knocked in a pair of charity tosses with six seconds left to give Augustana a 60-57 advantage. On the ensuing possession, Jelen attempted to foul Ryan Clarey as he crossed half court, but no whistle came and Clarey hit Charlie Soule, whose trey from the right corner beat the buzzer to send the contest to overtime.
 
Micah Martin (Iowa City HS, Iowa City, Iowa) and Elledge had the first two buckets of OT and the Vikings would lead the rest of the way, although they had to survive a harrowing last half-minute. Leading 64-63 with 36 seconds remaining, Augustana exhausted the entire shot clock before Pierson Wofford's (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield, Ill.) jumper rimmed out. Going for the rebound, Jacob Pauley (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) was called for coming over the back of Soule, putting the 84-percent free throw shooter at the line for a one-and-one with five seconds left. Soule's front end was no good and Martin snatched his game-best eighth rebound of the night. Freshman Jack McDonald (Geneva HS, Geneva, Ill.) was fouled and hit one of two free throws to account for the final.
 
Elledge had five points on a three-pointer and a dunk as the Vikings raced to a 12-0 lead early. They remained red-hot from the field, shooting 80 percent in the first half, but the Pioneers took advantage of 14 Augustana turnovers to stay within striking distance, trailing just 30-23 at the break.
 
After a Kale Maupin basket to start the second half trimmed the margin to five (30-25), the Vikings built it back to 15 over the next six minutes.
 
Augustana shot well again, hitting .579 from the field, but getting off just 38 attempts due in part to 25 turnovers. The Vikings were four of 11 (.364) from three-point range and 17 of 27 (.630) from the free throw line. Carroll shot .400 (22-55) from the floor, .438 (7-16) from beyond the arc and .667 (12-18) from the foul line and committed 17 turnovers. Augustana controlled the boards by a 35-25 margin.
 
Elledge finished with a game high 16 points on six of nine shooting from the field. Martin had 11 points and six blocked shots in addition to his eight boards. Penny and Blake Williams led the Pioneers with 13 points each.
 
Giovanine's crew is back at Carver on Thursday, December 12, hosting MacMurray, with tipoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.