BOX SCORE SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls (11-12, 7-12 NSIC) hit seven 3-pointers in the first half to build a large lead and hung on in the second half to earn a 70-58 win over Augustana (17-6, 13-6 NSIC) on Friday night in Sioux Falls.
James Rader led the Cougars with 19 points on 8 of 12 shooting while Robert Goffney finished with 12.
Cameron McCaffrey finished with 19 points for the Vikings, in the process moving up to fourth on the all-time scoring list at Augustana having scored 1,669 career points. McCaffrey passed Greg Nagel, who scored 1,764 career points from 1974-78.
Alex Richter added 10 points for the Vikings on 4 of 8 shooting, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range. The Vikings were 25 of 60 (42 percent) from the field, including 6 of 29 from 3-point range. Augustana hit just one 3-pointer in the first half while USF nailed all seven of its shots from behind the arc in the first half.
USF finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range. The Vikings left a lot of points on the court hitting just 2 of 9 from the free throw line, missing all seven chances in the second half.
USF jumped out to an early 5-0 lead when Brown hit a 3-pointer two minutes into the game. The Vikings tied it up after Huisken scored five points in a matter of 10 seconds. The freshman scored and converted a 3-point-play hitting a free throw and on the inbound stole the pass and slammed one home to knot the score at five.
The Cougars stretched their lead back up to five after an A.J. Holland 3-pointer and a bucket by James Rader to make the score 10-5. The Vikings responded by scoring five unanswered points to tie the game at 10.
USF then went on a 17-4 run over the next six minutes to take a 13-point 27-14 lead over the Vikings with 7:13 to play in the first half. The Cougars extended their lead to 18 at 37-19 after back-to-back 3-pointers by Jerry Dixon and Rader.
USF carried a 37-23 lead into the locker room after knocking down 7 of 11 3-pointers in the half and shooting 56 percent from the field. Rader led the Cougars in the first half with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, including a 3-pointer.
McCaffrey led the Vikings with eigh points while Huisken added five and Nomeland four. The Vikings shot 38 percent (10 of 26) from the field and were just 1 of 11 from 3-point range in the opening frame.
The Cougars turned a 14-point halftime lead to 20 just under eight minutes into the second half taking a 52-32 lead with 13:33 to play.
From that point on Augustana cut into the USF lead after two big 3-pointers by freshman
Tanner Odegaard at the midway point that cut the lead to 52-40.
Augustana continued to cut into the USF lead bringing down to seven after a big 3-pointer by
Alex Richter and a basket by McCaffrey with 5:39 to play in the game making the score 58-51.
After a USF free throw, McCaffrey cut the lead to 59-54 with a 3-pointer with 1:54 on the clock, but the Vikings were unable to come all the way back. USF hit 11 free throws in the final minute of the game to secure the victory.
Augustana returns to action tomorrow night traveling to Marshall, Minn. to take on Southwest Minnesota State at the R/A Facility beginning at 7 p.m.
