NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Matt Hanushewsky knocked down a free throw in the final seconds and scored the final four points for the Vikings on Wednesday as the Augustana Vikings men's basketball team completed a 75-74 comeback win on the road over the North Central Cardinals.

After the Vikings secured the first two baskets of the game, the Cardinals quickly shifted momentum in their favor, eventually building a double-digit first-half lead up to as many as 14 with eight minutes to go. Augie slowly chipped away, trimming their deficit in half at 37-30 following a Daniel Carr dunk with under 30 seconds remaining, but a buzzer-beating three from the Cardinals cushioned their margin back up to 10 as they led 40-30 after 20 minutes of action. The Vikings connected on 48 percent of their shots from the field, but did not hit a single three in the first 20 minutes of action, with the Cardinals posting a plus-12 margin from behind the arc to help lead to their early advantage.

The two teams began the second half trading baskets, but the Vikings quickly made a run shortly thereafter, scoring eight quick points to cut the deficit to two just three minutes in. Five minutes later, Augustana grabbed their first lead of the game since leading 4-0, benefiting from two Evan Ambrose free throws to put them up 46-44 for the time being. The back-and-forth affair continued, with neither team growing a differential greater than three until the Cardinals used a 6-0 run around the five-minute mark to snag a 65-60 advantage. Augie fought back with a 6-0 run of their own and the two teams continued to battle until the game resulted in a 71-71 tie with under a minute left.

In the final possessions, the Cardinals struck first with a basket to take a 73-71 lead. With under 30 seconds remaining, Hanushewsky converted one of two clutch moments down the stretch, earning a three-point play with a driving layup to put Augie back out in front. The Vikings secured a defensive stop on the ensuing possession, but a turnover and a foul put the Cardinals on the free-throw line with eight seconds showing. North Central hit one of two at the line to knot things at 74-74, but Hanushewsky took the ball into the lane strong with just seconds remaining to earn a foul. The senior guard missed the first, but knocked down the second, and a full-court pass for North Central was knocked away to seal the Vikings' win.

Hanushewsky tallied a season-best in both points and assists, posting 14 and seven in those categories. Tyler Knuth was the team's top scorer, finishing with 15 points, while Carr also added double figures with 14. The Viking defense held the Cardinals to just 36.7 percent shooting in the second half and upped their first-half effort, converting 58 percent of their looks. 

With the win, Augustana improves to 6-13 overall and 4-6 in the CCIW. The team will return home on Saturday, January 28 to host the Illinois Wesleyan Titans. Start time is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. from inside the Carver Center.