ROCK ISLAND -- Tyler Knuth poured in a career high 35 points on Wednesday night and moved into No. 13 all-time on the Augustana scoring list to help lead the Augustana men's basketball team to a 101-76 win over the Wheaton Thunder.

Ray Maurchie kicked off the game with the first points scored, followed by a three-pointer from the Thunder for their first and only lead of the night. The two teams drew even at five points apiece before a 9-0 run that saw a pair of baskets from Dani Romero allowed Augie to pull away. The lead reached double figures moments later at a score of 19-9, but Wheaton kept it around that point differential until a layup with 8:34 remaining cut the gap to seven. Four minutes later, the Thunder inched closer and were within just six points, but an 11-0 run for the Vikings over the span of the next five minutes gave them their largest lead of the first half at 17. Wheaton notched a single free throw to close the half and halt the scoring run, giving Augustana a 45-29 cushion at the halftime break. The Vikings shot 44 percent through the first 20 minutes and held the Thunder to just 38 percent shooting.

Both offenses caught fire in a high-scoring second half that saw each team shoot above a 55 percent clip. Eight points from Knuth within the first three minutes of the half helped push Augie's margin out to 26 before a layup from Staishaun Kelley five minutes in moved it to 27. The lead for the Vikings never dipped below 22 the rest of the way and a three-pointer by Dom Rhoden with three minutes remaining gave Augie its first lead over 30 points. The benches emptied for the remaining time and a Justin Garcia three-pointer moved Augustana over the century mark for the second time this season. 

A total of 14 Vikings scored in the win, but the day was highlighted by Knuth's 35 points on 11-20 shooting and five made threes. Kelley also added double-digit points in just 17 minutes off the bench to go with his two steals. Mike Hamilton was tied for the game's leading rebounder with 10. As a team, Augie shot 49 percent from the field and 41 percent from three, hitting 7-12 from distance in the second half. 

With the win, Augie improves to 15-8 on the year and 8-7 in the CCIW. The team will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a home battle against No. 11 Illinois Wesleyan.