Box Score
A strong first half by the Augustana men's basketball team push them past Upper Iowa Friday night, 84-73. The win marks head coach
Tom Billeter's 200th career victory.
The win also improves the Vikings to18-4 on the season and 11-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Upper Iowa falls to 10-13 overall and 7-10 in the league.
Upper Iowa's freshman guard Jake Hughes started the game off with a 3-pointer at the end of the first minute, but Augie quickly answered, scoring seven straight points. Two quick buckets by the Peacocks locked the score at 7-7 with 14:11 to play.
The teams traded baskets for the next six minutes, and a layup by sophomore guard Brad Arnold made the fourth tie of the game at 17-17 at the 8:56 mark.
The Vikings then went on a 16-2 run, with sophomore guard
Cody Schilling scoring six of those points, making the score 33-19 with 2:55 remaining.
Junior guard Dan Bestul sank a three-pointer for the Peacocks with 2:24 to play, but Augie closed out the half by scoring six unanswered points to earn a 39-22 lead at the break.
The Peacocks shot slightly better from the field than the Vikings in the first half, making 41.7 percent (10 of 24) compared to Augie's 40 percent (14 of 35).
The Vikings made up the difference in 3-point shooting though, making 5 of 11 (45.5 percent) while Upper Iowa was only 2 of 8 (25 percent).
Augie also played strong defense in the first half, collecting five steals and forcing seven turnovers while only committing two turnovers of their own.
Upper Iowa struck first again in the second with a layup, but sophomore center
Derrick De Zeeuw threw down a dunk at the 18:21 mark to keep the Vikings on top, 41-24.
The Peacocks began chipping away at the Viking lead, and pulled to within nine, 51-42, with 12:30 to play after five straight points by sophomore guard Brad Burgus. Augie then strung together a few small runs, and increased the lead to 61-46 after a bucket by freshman guard
Cameron McCaffrey with 9:15 on the clock.
Upper Iowa began desperation fouling with two minutes remaining, and cut into the Viking margin, coming as close as 79-71 with 46 seconds on the clock. But it was too little, too late, and Augie made six of its final eight free throws to close out the game.
Upper Iowa outshot Augie overall, making 52.8 percent (28-53) of their field goals compared to Augustana's 45.8 percent (27 of 59).
The teams were dead even from 3-point range, both shooting 38.9 percent (7 of 18).
Augie recorded eight steals in the game and forced 12 turnovers while only committing six. They also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Peacocks 36-28.
McCaffrey led the Vikings with 16 points while sophomore gurad
Cody Schilling added 15 points on 7 of 9 shooting and five rebounds.
Sophomore center Nate Truex contributed 11 points and senior guard
Jordan Dalton recorded eight assists.
Burgus led the Peacocks with 24 points.
The Vikings will be home again tomorrow for a 7 p.m. matchup with Winona State.
