SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –  No. 1 seed Augustana men's basketball opened up play in the NCAA Central Region Tournament with a convincing 104-77 win over No. 8 seed Arkansas Tech (18-14) in front of 3,082 fans at the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday evening. Casey Schilling led the Vikings registering his 12th double-double of the season with 29 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Vikings, ranked second in the country, improved to 31-2 with the win and advance to the Central Region semifinals where they will play the winner of No. 4 seed Northwest Missouri State and No. 5 seed Minnesota State. The semifinal game will be played at 7:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Augustana improved to 10-13 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, picking up its first win in the tournament since advancing to the semifinals in 2012-13.  
 
How it happened
• The Vikings opened up a 13-5 lead just under four minutes into the game getting back-to-back 3-pointers from Alex Richter.
• Arkansas Tech went on a 5-2 run over the next 1:37 to cut the Vikings' lead to four but Jordan Spencer answered with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and the Vikings started a run to add to the lead.
• Augustana hit four 3-pointers over the next three minutes, including Spencer's and two from Daniel Jansen to take a 29-19 lead with 9:42 remaining in the half.
• D.J. Jethroe kept Arkansas Tech close hitting two 3-pointers to keep his team within single-digits and cutting Augustana's lead to 35-28 with 2:17 remaining in the first half.
• Adam Beyer and Jordan Spencer each hit a 3-pointer in the final two minutes of the half and the Vikings took a 42-34 lead at the half.
• The Vikings shot just 37 percent from the field in the first half but were 8 of 14 (57 percent) from 3-point range.
• Schilling and Jansen each finished with 11 points in the first half, both nearly recording double-doubles in the first 20 minutes.
• Schilling finished with seven rebounds, Jansen added five.
• Spencer added six points, four rebounds and four assists in the first half.
• Arkansas Tech got eight points from Mike Balogun and Jay Murphy in the first half.
• The Wonder Boys shot 40 percent (12 of 30) from the field, hitting 5 of 15 3-pointers.
• Augustana got out to a fast start in the second half, going on an 8-2 run over the first two minutes to extend its lead to 50-36.
• The Wonder Boys cut the lead back to 10 at 52-42 after two 3-pointers from Tyler Friedel.
• The Vikings quickly extended the lead back to 16 and eventually 21 (68-47) after Steven Schaefer hit one of two free throws after a technical foul on the Wonder Boys.
• Augustana shot the lights out in the second half, connecting on 23 of 36 shots (64 percent) and led by as much as 29.
• Augustana put up 100-plus points for the second time this season, scoring a season-high 104 points.
 
Inside the Box Score
• Augustana improved to 10-13 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with the win.
• The Vikings advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2012-13.
• Casey Schilling registered his 27th career 20-plus point game, finishing with a game-high 29.
• Schilling has scored 20-plus points in a game 16 times this season.
• Schilling added 13 rebounds for his 12th double-double of the year (21st career).
• Schilling also picked up a season-high five assists and four blocks.
• Daniel Jansen just missed a double-double, finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds.
• Jansen registered his 30th career 20-point game (18th this season) while adding four steals.
• Jansen added five assists four steals for the Vikings.
• Jordan Spencer threatened a triple-double finishing with nine points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
• Spencer has dished out five or more assists in 14 straight games (24 this season).
• Adam Beyer nearly picked up his first career double-double finishing with 10 points and seven boards.
• Steven Schaefer added nine points off the bench, connecting on 2 of 4 from 3-point range.
• Augustana out-rebounded Arkansas Tech 45-31 and had four players with seven or more boards.
• Augustana dished out a season-high 27 assists and finished a season-low five turnovers on the night.
• Augustana scored a season-high 104 points, and hit triple-digits for the second time this season.
 
Up Next
• No. 1 seed Augustana will take on the winner of No. 4 Northwest Missouri State and No. 5 Minnesota State at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Sanford Pentagon.