No. 6 Augie Defeats UMD 71-62 in NSIC/Sanford Health Tourney Quarters

3/1/2015 8:38:00 PM

Box Score
Tournament Website

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –
Junior forward Casey Schilling scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lift No. 1 seed Augustana men's basketball to a 71-62 victory over No. 4 seed Minnesota Duluth (16-14). The Vikings (28-2) advance to the semifinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament and will play the winner of North Division No. 2 seed Northern State and South Division No. 3 seed Concordia-St. Paul on Monday at 8 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The win marked the 1,000th victory in Augustana men's basketball history as the program improved to 1,000-1,068 in its 93-year history.
 
Minnesota Duluth tied the game for just the second time of the night at 52 with 11:05 to play but the Vikings finished out the game strong to advance in the conference tournament.
 
How it happened
• Augustana attacked the rim early scoring six of its first eight points in the paint taking an 8-2 lead 2:26 into the game.
• After Augustana took a 13-6 lead on a 3-pointer by Alex Richter, Minnesota Duluth cut the lead to one scoring six straight to make the score 13-12.
• UMD's Pierre Newton missed a free throw to convert a 3-point-play that would have tied the game and the Vikings went on a 6-0 run to go in front 19-12.
• The run started with a great pass from Jordan Spencer to Zach Huisken under the hoop for an easy two-hand jam.
• Minnesota Duluth's Brett Ervin hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to four but Alex Richter drilled one of his own on Augustana's next possession and the Vikings started to build on their early lead.
• Huisken's dunk sparked a 25-18 run for Augustana that helped the Vikings build a 38-28 lead with 4:28 remaining in the first half.
• The Bulldogs closed-out the half on an 8-3 run over the final 4:28 and the Vikings held a 41-34 lead at the break.
• Augustana shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, hitting 4 of 12 3-pointers.
• Daniel Jansen led the Vikings with 14 points on 4 of 8 shooting, hitting 5 of 5 free throws.
• Casey Schilling finished with 12 points and six rebounds on 5 of 8 shooting.
• Augustana out-rebounded Minnesota Duluth 19-12 in the first half.
• The Bulldogs shot 48 percent from the field, hitting 4 of 11 3-pointers and forced Augustana in to seven turnovers.
• Brett Ervin led the Bulldogs with 12 points in the first half on 5 of 9 shooting.
• The Vikings built an early 10-point lead at 49-39 in the second half but UMD's Ervin scored three straight baskets to cut it to four at 49-45 six minutes into the half.
• UMD extended its run to 13-3 and tied the game when Pierre Newton converted a 3-point-play to make the score 52-52 with 11:05 to play.
• Casey Schilling took control of the game in the next 4:35, scoring 8 of 11 points for the Vikings helping build the lead back up to double-digits at 63-52.
• The Bulldogs cut the lead back down to four on a Brett Ervin 3-pointer but Augustana closed-out the game on a 5-0 run to secure the 71-62 victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Augustana won its 1,000th game in program history improving the all-time record to 1,000-1,068.
• The Vikings set the single season scoring record in the win.
• Augustana has scored 2,550 points this season, the most in a single season.
• Casey Schilling registered his first career 30-15 game, finishing with 30 points and 15 rebounds.
• He finished one shy of his career-high in points and rebounds in the win.
• Schilling has recorded 20 or more points and 15 or more rebounds in the same game three times in his career.
• Schilling finished the game 12 of 18 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free throw line.
• Daniel Jansen added 17 points, five rebounds while matching his career-high with three blocks.
• Jordan Spencer just missed a double-double finishing with 10 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
• Spencer has dished out five or more assists in 11 straight games and 21 times this season.
• Alex Richter pitched in with eight points and five rebounds on 3 of 8 shooting, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
• Augustana shot 44 percent (25 of 57) from the field after shooting 53.6 percent in the first half.
• The Vikings out-rebounded Minnesota Duluth 42-31, improving to 24-1 on the season when out-rebounding an opponent.
• Augustana is ranked No. 6 in the NABC Top 25 Poll and No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region rankings.
 
Up Next
• Augustana will play in the semifinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament at 8 p.m. on Monday at the Sanford Pentagon.
• The Vikings will take on the winner of North Division No. 2 seed Northern State and South Division No. 3 seed Concordia-St. Paul.
 
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