Augustana University Athletics

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WAYNE, Neb. – Augustana men's basketball out-scored Wayne State (Neb.) 45-23 in the second half on its way to a 70-45 win in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams on Monday night in Wayne, Neb. The Vikings (3-2, 1-0 NSIC) were led offensively by Daniel Jansen's 17 points and Casey Schilling's 15 points on Monday night.

Wayne State (2-2, 0-1 NSIC) turned the ball over 20 times in the contest and was just 17 of 50 (34 percent) from the field, including 3 of 15 from 3-point range.

The Vikings overcame poor first-half shooting to finish the game 20 of 58 (34.5 percent) from the field. Augustana made just 7 of 27 shots from the field in the opening half of tonight's game.

Augustana matched its season-high with 11 steals in the game, led by Schilling who matched his career-high with five. Schilling leads the team with 12 steals on the season and has recorded five in a game twice this season.

Augustana out-rebounded Wayne State 44-31, including 17 offensive boards. Schilling led Augustana on the glass with eight rebounds while five total players grabbed five or more rebounds for the Vikings. Malashenko finished the game with nine points and seven rebounds and freshman Devin Gilligan added a season-high 10 points and five rebounds. Adam Beyer also had five rebounds for the Vikings to go along with six points. 

Adol Aluong led Wayne State with 15 points and five rebounds, connecting on 6 of 9 free throws and 4 of 9 from the field. 

Augustana and Wayne State started off the game a combined 0 for 7 from the field before Yuriy Malashenko gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead on a layup with two and a half minutes gone in the first half. The Vikings broke the early scoring rout for a lead, one in which it would not relinquish in the half. 

The two teams went another two minutes without a basket before Wayne State finally got on the board on a basket by Jared Bartling. The Vikings answered by taking a six-point lead after a converted 3-point-play by Schilling and a basket by Jansen to make the score 8-2 with 13:57 remaining in the half.

Wayne State then went on a short 5-0 run over the next two minutes to make it a one-point game before Augustana reeled-off nine straight points to take a 19-9 after drawing Wayne State into defense fouls on four of its next five possessions. The Vikings hit seven of eight free throws during that stretch.

With Augustana holding a 21-11 lead, Wayne State went on a 9-0 run over a four-minute stretch to cut the Viking lead to one at 21-20 with 2:41 left to play in the first stanza.

Augustana controlled the offensive boards in the last few minutes of the half and was able to hang on to a three-point 25-22 lead heading into halftime.

The Vikings shot just 26 percent (7 of 27) from the field in the first half, including 0 of 7 from 3-point range. Wayne State finished the half 9 of 22 from the field, including 0 for 4 from behind the arc. Augustana was able to get to the line 13 times in the half, hitting 11 shots from the stripe for 85 percent free throw shooting.

Schilling led Augustana in the first half with eight points and four rebounds. Jansen finished the first with seven points on 3 of 6 shooting while Malashenko picked up six points and three boards. Each team finished the first half with 17 rebounds. The Vikings grabbed seven offensive boards while limiting Wayne State to just three on the offensive glass. Beyer led all players with five rebounds at the half.

Aluong led WSC in scoring in the first half with eight points of 2 of 4 shooting. Aluong shot all five of the Wildcats' first-half free throws, going 4 of 5 from the line. David Andersen was 3 for 3 from the field in the half for Wayne State for six points.

Both teams were able to end the 3-point shooting drought in the contest, both hitting two in the first five minutes of the second half. Malashenko's 3-pointer with 15:52 to go gave Augustana an eight point lead at 37-29.

The Vikings were able to take a 10-point lead with 12:44 remaining in the game when Schilling grabbed an offensive rebound after a missed Jansen free throw and scoring the basket to put the Vikings up 43-33. Augustana continued to pour it on the Wildcats going on a 17-0 run since the 15:03 mark to take its largest lead of the night at 53-33.

The Vikings led by as much as 31 in the second half on its way to its first win at Wayne State since Jan. 15, 2011, a 79-76 double-overtime win.

Tale of the tape
From behind the arc: Neither team knocked down a 3-point shot in the first half as the Vikings were 0 of 7 and the Wildcats 0 of 4. Fittingly enough, Augustana used the 3-point shot early in the second half to build an early lead. 

From the charity stripe: For the second straight game, Augustana shot better than 80 percent from the free throw line. The Vikings finished the game 27 of 32 for a season-high percentage of 84.4.

Cleaning up the glass: Augustana out-rebounded Wayne State 44-31, including 17-7 on the offensive glass. The Vikings scored 16 second-chance points, recording double-digits in that category for the fifth straight game. 

Staying away from fouls: Augustana commited just 16 personal fouls tonight, a season-low for the Vikings. The Vikings have not committed more than 19 fouls in a game this season while its opponents are averaging 20.1 fouls per game. Augustana has shot 19 or more free throws in all five games this season, including a season-high 32 tonight. Augustana has shot 30 or more free throws in a game twice this season. 

The numbers game

• With 17 offensive rebounds tonight, Augustana has recorded 10 or more offensive boards in a game three times this season. 
• Augustana forced Wayne State into 20 turnovers tonight, marking the second time this season the Vikings have forced a team into 20 or more. 
• Tonight marked the second straight game Augustana has shot better than 80 percent from the free throw line. 
• Augustana had five players with five or more rebounds tonight; Schilling (8), Malashenko (7), Jansen (5), Gilligan (5), Beyer (5).
• Augustana never trailed in the game tonight. 
• With 44 rebounds tonight, Augustana has had 40 or more rebounds in a game three times this season.
• Tonight marked the third straight game Augustana has out-rebounded its opponent. 

Whats next
Augustana will return to non-conference action heading west to take on Black Hills State on Saturday, Nov. 30, a 5 p.m. CT. The Vikings will then play South Dakota School of Mines on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 4 p.m. CT in Rapid City, S.D.