BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 1 seed Augustana men's basketball opened up the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament with a convincing 97-79 win over North Division No. 8 seed Bemidji State on Wednesday night at the Sioux Falls Arena. Augustana, ranked sixth in the NABC Top 25, advances to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament and will play North Division No. 4 seed Minnesota Duluth at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region, improved to 27-2 on the season with the victory and 4-6 all-time in NSIC Tournament play. Bemidji State finishes the season with a record of 8-19.
 
Augustana had six players score in double-figures for the first time since Jan. 2, 2009, led by Casey Schilling's 20 points. Zach Huisken had a big game off the bench for the Vikings scoring a career-high 16 points on 5 of 5 shooting while grabbing six rebounds.
 
How it happened
• Augustana opened the game hitting 1 of its first 11 shots from the field and Bemidji State held a 10-5 lead after a Dillon Floyd 3-pointer with 13:57 left in the first half.
• Jordan Spencer got the Vikings within two hitting a pair of free throws that made the score 10-7.
• Daniel Jansen, showcasing his passing abilities, sparked a 9-2 run in a little over two minutes finding three teammates for wide open 3-pointers that gave Augustana an 18-14 lead.
• After Alex Richter made it 15-12 with one of the three 3-pointers during the run, Bemidji State answered to cut the lead to one but the final 3-pointer of the 9-2 run sparked a huge run by the home team.
• Augustana out-scored Bemidji State 29-14 over the final eight minutes of the first half to build a 47-28 halftime lead.
• The Vikings led by as much as 22 in the first half and took a 19-point lead into the locker room after Adam Beyer hit a mid-range jumper as time expired.
• Augustana shot 45 percent from the field in the first half, connecting on 5 of 12 3-pointers while converting 12 of 13 free throws.
• Bemidji State shot 40 percent (12 of 30) in the first half, hitting 2 of 12 3-pointers.
• BSU came out of the second half on a 7-2 run to cut Augustana's lead to 14 at 49-35 just over a minute into the half.
• The Vikings quickly built their lead back to 22 scoring 10 of the next 22 to go in front 59-37.
• Augustana would out-score the Beavers 16-8 in the next three-plus minutes to build its largest lead of the night at 75-45 on a fastbreak 3-pointer by Adam Beyer with 11:54 to play.
• The Vikings made the Beavers pay at the free throw line, connecting on 27 of 34 from the stripe, finishing one shy of tying a season-high for free throws made.
• Augustana finished-off Bemidji State by a final score of 97-79, marking the 15th time scoring 90-plus points this season.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Augustana had six players score in double-figures since Jan. 2, 2009 versus Bemidji State.
• All five Augustana starters scored in double-figures for the fifth straight game and seventh time this season.
• Casey Schilling recorded his ninth double-double of the season (18th career) finishing with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
• This was Schilling's first double-double since scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds against MSU Moorhead on Feb. 7.
• Daniel Jansen finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.
• Jansen has had six or more rebounds in eight straight games for the Vikings.
• Zach Huisken ended the night with a career-high 16 points on 5 of 5 shooting while hitting 6 of 8 free throws.
• Huisken added six rebounds, two assists and a block in the win.
• Jordan Spencer finished with 13 points and five assists while going 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
• Adam Beyer pitched in with 11 points, three assists and two rebounds.
• Augustana improved to 4-6 all-time in NSIC Tournament play.
• Augustana is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region Rankings.
 
Up Next
• Augustana advances to the quarterfinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament and will take on North Division No. 4 seed Minnesota Duluth at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 1 at the Sanford Pentagon.