Box Score
Augustana used a big run midway through the second half and some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to outlast No. 19 Southwest Minnesota State 78-74 during the opening day of the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest Saturday night at the Sioux Falls Arena.
Augustana improved to 3-1 with its third-straight win while Southwest Minnesota State slipped to 4-1.
The Vikings trailed 40-36 at the break, but came out strong in the second half. Augustana outscored SMSU 8-2 out of the gate to take its first lead of the game at 44-42 with 16:38 to play in the game.
Minutes later, Augie was clinging to a 50-49 lead before
Eric Krogman erupted for 10 points during a 12-0 run that gave the Vikings a 62-49 lead with 11:09 to play. Krogman buried two-straight 3-pointers to ignite the rally and then capped the outburst with a pair of layups.
Southwest Minnesota State sliced the lead to 5 with an 8-0 spurt, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers by Kevin Andrews. However, the Vikings never relinquished the lead.
Augustana appeared to have the game secured when
David Foster got a steal and drove the length of the court for a layup to put the Vikings in front 72-63 with 1:55 remaining. But the Mustangs crept within 4 at 74-70 with 28 seconds remaining.
Augustana's
Jordan Dalton then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and SMSU grabbed the rebound. However, Ryan Krome's 3-point shot rimmed out and Augie's
Elliot Thomas hauled down the rebound. He then calmly sank both free throws to put the Vikings ahead 76-70 with 18 seconds left.
DeAnthony Zanders then scored in the lane for SMSU and then the Vikings turned the ball over. Andrews knocked down a jumper with 4 seconds on the clock to make the score 76-74.
Thomas then chased down a long inbounds pass and was fouled with 2.3 seconds to play. Again he sank both charity tosses to put the game out of reach.
Augustana shot 47 percent from the field for the game, making 31 of 66 field goal attempts. SMSU, meanwhile shot 45 percent, connecting on 29 of 64 shots. While the Mustangs made three more 3-pointers than the Vikings, Augustana enjoyed a big edge at the free throw line. Augie made 12 of 15 free throws, including a 7-for-7 effort from Thomas, while SMSU was just 9 of 22 at the line.
Both teams shot well in the first half. SMSU trailed early 6-5 before scoring 6 unanswered points to take an 11-6 lead with 13:20 remaining.
Later in the half, the Mustangs led 24-22 before going on a 7-0 run to increase their lead to 31-22 with just over 6 mintues to play in the half. Minutes later SMSU pushed its lead to 11 on back-to-back baskets by Taylor Huseby and Andrew Peschong. However, the Vikings righted their ship and closed out the half with a 10-3 run to narrow the gap to 40-36 at halftime.
Krogman led four Vikings in double figures with 16 points.
Mike Klepatz came off the bench to score 13 points, while Thomas finished with 12. Foster rounded out the group with 11 points.
Peschong led SMSU with 17 points, while Andrews poured in 15 points. Ross DeMasi joined them in double figures with 10.
Augustana returns to action on Sunday when the Vikings will take on Minnesota State University Moorhead at 7 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena.
