BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Double-figure scoring efforts from four Vikings and a 60.8 percent shooting performance led Augustan past Upper Iowa 97-77 Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Augustana picks up its fifth win in a row and moves to 11-5 (8-4 NSIC). Upper Iowa is now 5-11 (4-8 NSIC).
Cameron McCaffrey and
Cody Schilling each scored 24 points,
Leif Nomeland had 13 and
Trevor Hass added 10. McCaffrey also dished out five assists.
The Vikings drilled 11 of 21 (52.4 percent) 3-pointers and established a season high in that category as well.
Matt Lesan had a game-high 27 points for UIU, which logged a strong shooting performance as well, connecting at a 52.1 percent clip.
The Vikings scorched the nets in the first half, shooting 77.0 percent (19 of 25).
That effort was keyed by a threesome of Augustana shooters in double figures before the break. McCaffrey and Schilling each 15 points at intermission, while Nomeland added 11.
The Vikings sported a double-figure lead by the midway point of the first half and had the advantage to more than 20 points with 3:05 left until halftime. Augustana led 58-32 by the time the half ended.
Augustana canned 8 of 12 3-pointers in the first half and was a perfect 12 of 12 from the line.
The Viking lead grew to as large as 33 points eight minutes into the second half, and Augustana rode that advantage to the end.
The smallest UIU deficit of the half--20 points--came three times, with the last at the end of the contest.
The 97 points scored by the Vikings also marked a season high.
It was the fifth straight game Augustana has outrebounded its opponent (25-21), and the Vikings' 58 first-half points was the most in a half this season.
The Viking win puts them in a tie for third place in the latest NSIC standings. U-Mary and St. Cloud State also have 8-4 conference marks.
Augustana finishes this weekend home set tomorrow in a 6 p.m. meeting with Winona State.
