Box Score
Playing in its second consecutive NCAA Central Regional final, the Augustana men's basketball team fell in overtime to St. Cloud State 84-75 Tuesday night in Mankato, Minn. The Vikings finished the season with a 24-7 record, a record for wins in a season.
Matching up for the third time in the season, the two teams demonstrated their knowledge of each other, slowing each other's offensive threats throughout a game that saw 17 ties and 17 lead changes.
Neither team could pull ahead by more than six in the first half. Augie stormed out to an early 6-0 advantage 1:32 into the contest after two three-point baskets by
David Foster and
Cody Schilling.
St. Cloud State then put together a 14-2 run over the next 7:11 to take the lead 14-8 on a three-pointer by Brett Putz. Following four more ties, Schilling made a jumper with 35 seconds to play and the Vikings took a 28-26 lead to halftime.
The teams were more productive in the second half, but each team continued to match each other bucket for bucket. A three-point play by Theo Rothstein put the Huskies up 58-53 with 5:21 to play, but Augie battled back to tie the score again at 61 on a made free throw by
Lee Stephens.
NSIC Player of the Year Matt Schneck, who finished with 19 points and 19 rebounds, put SCSU back up two on a made free throw with 17 seconds to play, but Foster was able to answer with a layup to tie the score at 66 with 10 seconds remaining. Josh Ortmann drove for the final shot of the half, but Schilling stripped the ball away, and the game went to overtime.
With 2:44 remaining in the extra session,
Nathan Truex hit a jumper to put Augie up 75-71, but SCSU held Augie to 0-of-6 from the field the rest of the way and earned a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight with the 84-75 win.
Foster finished with 16 points and a career total of 1183, placing him 18th on the all-time scoring list. Schilling finished with 22, while
Cameron McCaffrey and Stephens tallied 17 and 11, respectively. McCaffrey and Schilling were named to the all-tournament team.
St. Cloud State advances to the NCAA Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., and will face Midwestern State March 24.
