BOX SCORE

MINOT, N.D. – Augustana College head men's basketball head coach Tom Billeter won his 300th career game as his fifth-ranked Vikings defeated Minot State 87-58 at the MSU Dome on Saturday night. With the win, Augustana won its 14th straight game improving to 21-1 on the season, including 15-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. Minot State is now 11-11 on the season, 6-10 in conference play.
 
Augustana had five players in double-figures in tonight's game, led by Casey Schilling who finished with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds. Daniel Jansen and Adam Beyer both scored 14 points and Alex Richter and Jordan Spencer each added 13.
 
How it happened
• The Vikings set the tone down low early jumping out to a 14-4 lead five minutes into the game, scoring all 14 of their points in the paint.
• Augustana mixed in a couple 3-pointers over the next two minutes to build a 16-point 22-6 lead with 12:15 remaining in the first half.  
• Minot State put together a mini run of 13-6 over the next 5:26 to get within nine at 28-19.
• That would be as close as the Vikings would let them get in the first 20 minutes as they were able to answer with a 14-2 run over the final 5:49 of the half to take a 42-21 lead into the locker room.
• Seven different players scored for the Vikings in the first half, led by Alex Richter's 10 points.
• Casey Schilling pitched in with eight points while Jordan Spencer and Daniel Jansen each had seven.
• Augustana shot 57.7 percent (15 of 26) from the field, including 55.6 percent (5 of 9) from 3-point range.
• Augustana forced Minot State into eight turnovers in the first half, while recording six steals.
• The Vikings did not allow Minot State many second-chance opportunities in the first half, grabbing 14 defensive rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
• Augustana picked up right where it left off in the first half, going on a 14-4 run over the first three minutes of the second half to take a 31-point lead at 56-25.
• Minot State would not be put away quietly as it went on an 18-6 run over the next four minutes to get within 19 at 62-43 with 11:56 remaining in the game.
• Adam Beyer pushed Augustana's lead back to over 20 after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to stop the Minot State run.
• The Vikings would led by as much as 31 over the final stretch, earning their 14th straight win with an 87-58 victory over the Beavers.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Tom Billeter won his 300th career game as a collegiate head coach.
• Billeter is now 300-189 all-time, including 203-139 in 12 seasons as the head coach at Augustana.
• Billeter is one of 50 active coaches with 300 career victories.
• Schillings' game-high 20 points marked his 11th 20-point game this season (23rd career).
• Jordan Spencer dished out six assists to go along with a career-high four steals.
• Spencer has dished out five or more assists 12 times this season, including three straight games.
• Adam Beyer his seventh double-digit scoring effort of the season while dishing out three assists to go along with five rebounds and two blocks.
• Daniel Jansen finished the night with 14 points and seven rebounds on 4 of 8 shooting while going 6 of 9 from the free throw line.
• Alex Richter knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points on 5 o f10 shooting.
• Augustana finished the game shooting 55 percent from the field, marking the 12th time this season and fourth straight game the Vikings have shot better than 50 percent in a game.
• The Vikings hit 10 of 19 from 3-point range, marking the 10th time this season hitting 10 or more 3-pointers in a game.
• Augustana has hit 10 or more 3-pointers in four of its last five games.
 
Up Next
• Augustana begins a four-game homestand with a pair of crucial games next Friday and Saturday.
• The Vikings open the weekend hosting Northern State at 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Sioux Falls Arena.
• Augustana will then host MSU Moorhead at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
• Augustana and MSU Moorhead will enter next weekend tied in the overall NSIC standings at 15-1 in conference play.