Box Score
Augustana wasted little time in gaining the upper hand as the Vikings cruised to a 79-50 non-conference victory over the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Saturday afternoon at the Elmen Center.
The Vikings, who improved to 2-1 on the season, jumped on the Hardrockers at the outset of the game, scoring the first 10 points of the game. Augustana made its first 5 shots of the game as the Vikings opened the game with a 12-2 lead barely 2 minutes into the contest.
Spearheading the charge was junior David Foster, scored 13 of his game-high 16 points in the first half. Foster was 5-for-7 shooting in the first half, including 2-for-3 from 3-point range. As a team, Augustana shot 54 percent (19 of 35) from the field as nine different players scored. The Vikings were also 6-for-11 from behind the arc.
The Hardrockers cut the lead to single digits four times, the last coming at 17-8 with just under 16 minutes to play in the first half. From there, Augustana went on a 12-4 run to increase the lead to 17 at 29-12 with 9:24 left in the half. The Vikings eventually pushed the advantage to 26 as they took a 47-21 lead into intermission.
Augustana led by at least 20 points the entire second half. South Dakota Mines narrowed the gap to 58-38 with 11:26 to play, but the Vikings erupted with a 15-1 outburst that madet he score 73-39 with 5:29 on the clock.
In addition to shooting just under 45 percent from the field, the Vikings outrebounded the Hardrockers 39-30 while also forcing 25 turnovers.
Robbie Fedor and Carl Johnson led South Dakota Mines with 11 points apiece, while Tommy Smith chipped in with 10.
Marques Blank and Lee Stephens joined Foster in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Fellow starters Cody Schilling and Eric Krogman narrowly missed double digits with 9 points apiece. Krogman led the Vikings on the glass with 7 rebounds.
Augustana will take the next week off before competing in the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest. The Vikings will take on Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday, November 29, at 7 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena.
