Box ScoreAugustana used a strong performance from the 3-point line and free throw line to upend 18th-ranked South Dakota 91-78 Saturday night in front of 4,810 fans at the Sioux Falls Arena.
The win improved the Vikings to 8-8 overall and 1-1 in the North Central Conference, while South Dakota fell to 11-4 and 0-1 in the NCC.
Augie finished the night by shooting 52 percent (28-for-54) from the field, including an 11-for-17 (65 percent) effort from 3-point range. The 11 treys matched a season high. The Vikings were also 24-for-31 from the free throw line.
The game was tight in the early going. However, with USD leading 13-11, the Vikings went on an 11-2 run, including a stretch of 9 straight points, to take a 22-15 lead with 10:00 left in the half.
Nick Olson spearheaded the rally with 7 of his 13 first-half points.
After a 3-pointer by USD’s David Nour made it a 22-18 game, the Coyotes had a chance to tie the game when Augustana was assessed 2 technical fouls after someone in the Viking student section tossed a Coyote on the court. However, USD’s Jesse Becker made 3 of the 4 free throws, making the score 22-21 in favor of Augie.
After the technical fouls, the Vikings went to their outside shooting.
Eric Krogman hit back-to-back 3-pointers, his only points of the game, to ignite a 14-0 run.
Joey Ryan and
Dave Medema capped the rally with treys of their own to give the Vikings a 36-21 lead with 4 minutes left in the half.
Becker stopped the rally with a 3-pointer. It also ended a 4:30 stretch without a field goal.
Augustana shot 50 percent (16-for-32) from the field in the first half, while limiting USD to 38 percent (8-for-21) shooting and forcing 11 first-half turnovers.
Augustana built its lead in the second half.
Mike Klepatz, who scored only 2 points in the first half, scored the Vikings’ first 6 points of the second half. Then Augie went back to work from the outside as Olson and
Ian Thomas each drained 3-pointers to give the Vikings its largest lead of the game at 17 points, 57-40 with 13:37 to play.
South Dakota would not fold though as the Coyotes gradually chipped away at the deficit. USD’s Turner Trofolz scored at 3:52 to cut the lead to single digits at 73-65. It was Augie’s smallest lead since 30-21 with 5:15 left in the first half.
But the Vikings were able to withstand the USD charge. With 3:32 left in the game, USD resorted to fouling in order to catch up. But the Vikings, a 69 percent free throw shooting team on the season, made the Coyotes pay for the strategy. Augie converted 16 of 18 free throws in the final 3:32 to stave off a USD comeback.
Four of Augustana’s starters scored in double figures. Ryan led the way with 19 points, with 12 coming in the second half. Olson was next with 16, followed by
Excell Hardy with 13 and Klepatz with 12. The Vikings’ fifth starter, Medema, scored 8 points to go along with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in his first start of the season.
Trofholz led four USD players in double figures with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Becker netted 17 points, while Dustin Little and Nour scored 14 and 13 points respectively.
Augustana will venture on the road next week when the Vikings travel to Minnesota-Duluth on January 12 and St. Cloud State on January 14.
