BOX SCORE
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -
Cameron McCaffrey scored 29 points and
Leif Nomeland hit four 3-pointers to help Augustana past Southwest Minnesota State 83-70 Saturday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference basketball in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Augustana improves to 15-6 (12-5 NSIC), while SMSU drops to 9-12 (6-11 NSIC).
McCaffrey finished 10 of 19 from the field and connected on three 3-pointers in the win.
Four Vikings reached double figures on the evening.
Cody Schilling scored 20 points, Nomeland had 15 and
Trevor Hass added 10.
Scott Roehl logged his 11th double-double of the season, 15 points and 10 rebounds, to pace the Mustangs, which haven't won a conference road game this season.
For the fifth time this season, the Vikings shot at least 50 percent, putting together a 54.2 percent (26 of 48) performance.
The two teams combined for just 21 points in the game's first 10 minutes. The Vikings held an 11-10 lead at the 11:15 mark.
Augustana finished the half on a 10-3 run, boosted by eight points from McCaffrey. The surge affording the Vikings a 36-23 lead at the break.
McCaffrey and Schilling combined for 25 points in the first half. McCaffrey had 14 points, while Schilling had 11.
Augustana also shot 56.0 percent (14 of 25) from the floor.
The Vikings widened the deficit via the hand of
Leif Nomeland early in the second half. The sophomore drilled three 3-pointers to key a 9-1 run and give Augustana a 47-30 lead with 16:08 left.
Augustana led by double figures until SMSU's Jordan Miller drilled a deep 3-pointer with 2:36 remaining to trim the difference to nine points at 67-58.
The Mustangs tried to hang around down the stretch, but the Vikings kept them at least an eight-point distance and neutralized a pair of SMSU 3-pointers with free throws by Hass and Schilling in the final 40 seconds.
Augustana was outrebounded 32-30.
SMSU shot 42.6 percent (23 of 54) from the floor in the loss.
The Mustangs defeated the Vikings 66-64 in both teams' conference openers on Dec. 3 in Marshall, Minn.
The Vikings travel to Northern State and U-Mary next weekend.
