Box ScoreWith the help of 41 points from its bench, the Augustana men's basketball team routed Dana College 79-57 Monday afternoon at the Elmen Center.
Augustana, winners of 4 straight games and 12 of their last 14 games, concluded non-conference action with a 12-3 overall record. Dana, meanwhile, slipped to 7-9.
Augie's bench made its impact in each half, scoring 21 points in the first half and 20 in the second half.
After Augustana got off to a slow start, the bench provided the necessary spark. Augie trailed 11-5 with 15:40 left in the half before reeling off 18 unanswered points to take a 23-11 lead with 10 minutes to play in the half. The reserves accounted for 13 of those points.
Augustana pushed the lead to 14 before settling for a 41-31 lead at the break.
Augie never let Dana back into the game in the second half. Augustana scored the first 3 baskets of the second half to push the lead to 47-31 in the first 2:30 to seize control of the momentum.
Augustana's largest lead of the second half was 26 at 65-39 with 9 minutes left in the contest.
Augsutana shot 51 percent (33-65) from the field for the game, while limiting Dana to 38 percent (22-58) shooting.
Sparking Augustana off the bench was
Ian Thomas, who netted a season-high 15 points. He made 5 of 7 field goals, including 3 of 4 3-point attempts.
Three other reserves,
Elliot Thomas,
Matt Paulson and
Mike Klepatz, all scored 6 points and combined for 9 rebounds.
Joining Ian Thomas in double figures were
David Foster, who poured in 13 points, and
Tom VerDouw, who recorded a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, including 12 defensive boards.
Doug Huston had 11 points to lead Dana, while Trent Albers scored 10 points off the bench.
Augustana will open its final season in the North Central Conference with a road game at Nebraska-Omaha on January 10.
