ROCK ISLAND, Ill.—Augustana closed the first half on a 13-4 run to take a 10-point halftime lead and then pulled away in the second stanza, defeating North Park 96-73 on Senior Night at Carver Center. Coach Grey Giovanine's squad finished the regular season 18-7 overall and 12-4 and in second place in the CCIW. The Vikings will play in the first CCIW Tournament semifinal on Friday, February 28 in Naperville, Illinois. NPU finished the year 4-21 overall and 2-14 in the conference.
 
Alex Flute had five points in an 11-0 North Park run that gave the visitors a 16-9 lead six minutes in. They stayed on top until a Pierson Wofford (Springfield Lutheran HS, Springfield, Ill.) layup put Augustana up 21-20 with 10:19 remaining in the first half.
 
NPU took one final lead (24-23) on a Karl Polk Jr. basket and forged one final tie (29-29) on a Lawrence Pointer triple at the 5:31 mark. However, Jacob Pauley (Geneseo HS, Geneseo, Ill.) answered with a three-pointer and Augustana had the lead for good. An Izaiah Sanders bucket pulled North Park to within 32-31, but a Lucas Simon (Notre Dame HS, Chicago, Ill.) field goal and a Jack Jelen (Bay HS, Bay Village, Ohio) trey sparked the Vikings' 13-4 burst to close the half. Another Wofford layup capped it, as Augustana led 45-35 at the break. Wofford scored all 15 of his first-half points in the final 11 minutes of the period.
 
Wofford opened the second half with a three-pointer and the Vikings quickly extended the margin to 20 (59-39) on a Roman Youngblut (Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa) layup with 15:40 to play. A Donovan Ferguson (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) putback at the 9:01 mark put Augustana up 74-45 and the lead grew to its largest of the night at 85-54 on a Daniel Carr (Regis Jesuit HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) three-pointer with 5:54 left.
 
Ferguson was the first senior to get his curtain call. He came out at the 8:50 mark with six points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Wofford—who finished with a game-high 24 points, five rebounds and two assists—Simon (nine points five rebounds) and Austin Elledge (Highland HS, Highland, Ill.) exited near the five-minute mark and Micah Martin (Iowa City HS, Iowa City, Iowa) came out a minute later with 16 points and six rebounds. Youngblut was the last, leaving with five rebounds and two blocked shots with two minutes left.
 
In addition to the seniors, Jelen finished with eight points and a game-high five assists and Pauley tallied eight as well. Freshmen Matt Hanushewsky (Hersey HS, Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Carr each scored seven.
 
Sanders led North Park with 18 points.
 
Augustana shot .581 from the field on 36 of 62. The Vikings hit 10 of 18 (.556) three-point attempts and 14 of 18 (.778) free throws. They limited North Park to .391 (26-67) shooting from the floor and .364 (8-22) from beyond the arc. NPU was 13 of 17 (.765) at the foul line. The hosts held a 42-28 advantage on the glass and committed 13 turnovers to 11 for their guests.