BOX SCORE

FAYETTE, IOWA – No. 2 Augustana College men's basketball fought-off a pesky Upper Iowa (15-12, 11-10 NSIC) team in a 97-92 victory over the Peacocks to improve to 26-1, 20-1 NSIC and clinch at least a share of the regular season Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title. With the victory, Augustana became the first NSIC men's team to win 20 conference games in a season in league history.
 
Augustana has now won 19 straight games and has a shot at the out-right NSIC title with a victory at Winona State on Saturday night. Jordan Spencer led the Vikings with a career-high 20 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds. For the third straight game, all five Viking starters scored in double-digits with Casey Schilling pitching in with 19 points and Daniel Jansen with 17.
 
The Vikings shot 53.6 percent from the field while hitting 9 of 21 from 3-point range. Upper Iowa finished the game shooting 47 percent, knocking down 12 of 29 3-pointers.
 
How it happened
• The Vikings came out of the gates fast building a 13-point lead just 7:32 into the game.
• Holding on to a 7-5 lead, the Vikings out-scored Upper Iowa 14-3 over the next 4:49 to take a 21-8 lead with 12:11 remaining in the first half.
• Adam Beyer ended the run scoring five straight points for Augustana on a 3-pointer and a fastbreak bucket after a steal on the defensive end.
• After Upper Iowa cut the lead back to single digits with back-to-back jumpers in the paint Augustana was able to go on a 15-2 run over the next 4:38 to build its largest lead of the night at 36-14 with 6:40 to play in the half.
• The Peacocks hit four 3-pointers and went on a 26-9 run over the next 5:16 to cut Augustana's lead to just five with 1:15 remaining in the half.
• Augustana would take an eight-point 48-40 lead into the locker room and was in for a battle the remainder of the night.
• Upper Iowa shot 50 percent from the field, including 7 of 13 from 3-point range in the second half and never let the Vikings lead grow larger than 13 after the first 1:27 of the second half.
• Augustana hit two 3-pointers early in the second half to go in front 56-44 but Upper Iowa had an answer for every Viking run.
• Upper Iowa cut Augustana's lead to two four times in the second half but Augustana never relinquished the lead.
• Steven Schaefer and Jordan Spencer each came up with some big 3-pointers late in the second half to keep the Vikings in the lead.
• Augustana was sent to the free throw line 10 times in the final 4:21 and the Vikings hit 9 of 10 from the line to seal the victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Augustana won its 20th conference game of the season, becoming the first NSIC men's team to win 20 games in a single season in league history.
• Augustana has stretched its win streak to 19 games, the longest current win streak in Division II.
• Augustana clinched at least a share of the regular season NSIC title with a win tonight.
• A win tomorrow at Winona State would secure the outright NSIC championship.
• Jordan Spencer finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds.
• Spencer has dished out six or more assists in eight straight games.
• Casey Schilling added 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks for the Vikings.
• Daniel Jansen pitched in with 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
• Alex Richter scored 14 points, hitting 3 of 6 from 3-point range, while grabbing two steals.
• Adam Beyer finished with 13 points and a career-high three blocks.
• All five Viking starters scored in double-figures for the third straight game.
• Augustana has had all five starters score 10-plus points in the same game five times this season.
• Steven Schaefer and Zach Huisken combined for 15 points off the bench for the Vikings.
• Schaefer finished with eight points hitting 2 of 4 3-pointers while Huisken added seven points and five rebounds.
• Augustana shot 53.6 percent from the field, marking the eighth time in the last nine games the Vikings have shot better than 50 percent in a game.
• Augustana out-rebounded its opponent for the 22nd time this season, winning the boards 35-32 over UIU.
• Augustana had 15 turnovers on the night, its most since Jan. 24 when the Vikings had a season-high 19 against Upper Iowa.   
 
Up Next
• Augustana will close-out the regular season tomorrow night taking on Winona State at 6 p.m. in Winona, Minn.