BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana College men's basketball team used a balanced attack to earn an 87-82 season-opening victory over Washburn University (0-1) in the Sanford Pentagon Basketball Showcase on Friday night. The Vikings (1-0) had four players in double-figures, including Casey Schilling's team-high 23 points.
 
Schilling matched his career-high with 12 rebounds for his 10th career double-double while Daniel Jansen registered his ninth career double-double finishing with 15 points and 12 rebounds which also ties a career high for boards in a game. Schilling and Jansen both also pitched in with four assists each.  
 
Playing in his first game in a Viking uniform after sitting out as a redshirt last season, Jordan Spencer had a solid performance finishing with 19 points and four assists on 5 of 7 shooting, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Spencer also finished 3 of 3 from the free throw line.
 
Alex Richter, who missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury, looked right at home back on the hardwood for the Vikings as he picked up 17 points and three rebounds.
 
The Vikings shot 50 percent from the field in the contest, while hitting 9 of 25 (36 percent) from 3-point range. Augustana started out the game red hot from the field finishing the first half shooting 57 percent (16 of 28) from the field while hitting 8 of 13 (61 percent) from 3-point range.
 
After a back-and-forth affair to the midway point of the first half, Augustana went on a 20-3 over a five minute stretch to take its largest lead of the game at 12 points (36-24) with 3:24 to play in the first half. The Vikings regained the lead in the middle of the run after the game's fifth tie score and never looked back leading the remainder of the contest.
 
The Vikings held an 11-point halftime lead but the Ichabods started off the second with a 10-4 run to cut Augustana's lead to five at 54-49. That would be as close as Washburn would get as the Vikings built another 11-point lead with four minutes remaining in the game.
 
WU was able to cut the lead to four with 23 seconds left after a 3-pointer by Kyle Wiggins but Spencer hit two free throws on Augustana's next trip to help seal the victory.
 
Augustana improved to 47-44 all-time in season openers. Augustana is now 9-3 in season-opening games under Tom Billeter.
 
Augustana continues action in the Sanford Pentagon Basketball Showcase taking on Pittsburg State (Kan.) at 8 p.m. Saturday night.