Box ScoreSouth Dakota ended any chance Augustana entertained at hosting a first-round game in the Wells Fargo Finals as the Coyotes defeated the Vikings 75-51 Thursday night at the DakotaDome.
The Vikings dropped to 12-15 overall and 5-7 in the North Central Conference. USD, meanwhile, improved to 18-8 overall and 6-5 in the NCC. The loss also means the Vikings can do no better than the No. 5 seed for next week’s Wells Fargo Finals, meaning Augie will be on the road.
The game was tight for the first 9 minutes of the game, featuring four lead changes. But, with Augustana leading 12-11, the Coyotes scored 9 unanswered points to take a 20-12 lead. After a basket by Augie’s
Excell Hardy, USD reeled off 7 straight points to increase its lead to 27-14 with 5:55 left in the first half.
The margin grew to 17 points, 33-16, before Augustana narrowed the margin to 35-21 at halftime.
South Dakota came out strong in the second half. Leading 41-26, the Coyotes went on a 12-4 run that turned a 41-26 lead into a 53-30 advantage with just over 11 minutes left to play in the game.
USD held the advantage in shooting percentage. The Coyotes shot 46 percent from the field, including 53 percent in the second half. Augustana, meanwhile, connected on 34 percent of its field goal attempts. The Vikings shot only 31 percent in the first half.
Nick Olson led Augustana with 15 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. He was the lone Viking in double figures. The Vikings’ 51 points was the second-lowest point total of the season.
Jesse Becker paced USD with a game-high 16 points. Turner Trofholz picked up a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while David Nour and Ross Winnekins each poured in 12 points.
Augustana, which concluded the regular season, will now wait until Saturday night to find out who it will play in the first round of the Wells Fargo Finals. Action begins on Wednesday, March 1.
