Box Score ROCK ISLAND – In a game dedicated to honoring the 1975-76 Augustana men's basketball team that reached the NCAA Division III Final Four, the Vikings delivered a gritty 80-73 win over the Carroll Pioneers on Saturday at Carver Center. With the victory, Augustana improves to 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the CCIW.

The first half featured a tense, back-and-forth battle with 10 lead changes. Carroll held an early edge, but the Vikings responded from a 25-18 deficit with an 11-3 run, fueled by back-to-back threes from Cam Atkinson and Jake Willems, to take a 29-28 lead with 6:05 remaining. Andre Klaver's layup gave Augustana the advantage, though the Pioneers reclaimed a slim 36-33 halftime edge.

Following a halftime ceremony recognizing seven members of the 1975-76 Final Four squad, Carroll burst out to open the second half with an 8-0 run, building their largest lead at 41-33. The Vikings answered decisively, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on poor Pioneer shot selection to fuel a 17-7 surge. Cam Atkinson's deep three capped the run, giving Augustana their first lead of the half at 50-48 with 11:05 to play and forcing a Carroll timeout.

The teams traded threes afterward, with the Vikings maintaining a narrow 58-56 advantage before another Pioneer timeout. Ethan Andre's three-pointer extended the lead, and trips to the free-throw line helped Augustana build their largest margin of the night. Dani Romero scored through contact, and Andre Klaver added a close-range jumper to push the advantage to 10 points.

Carroll refused to fold, mounting a comeback to trim the deficit to five with 3:36 remaining. The Vikings called timeout, and after trading baskets, the Pioneers closed within three with under 2:25 left. Down the stretch, free throws proved decisive. Augustana went 17-of-29 from the line overall, including 9-of-10 in the final minutes to secure the victory.

Cam Atkinson led the Vikings with 18 points while Andre Klaver delivered a strong all-around performance with 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Ray Maruchie added 13 points, going a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. The bench also played a pivotal role, contributing 33 points in the win. 

The Vikings return to action on Wednesday, January 21, when they travel to North Park for a 7 p.m. tip-off.