The Augustana University men’s basketball team capped-off an incredible two-year run winning the program’s first National Championship in 2015-16. The Vikings were coming off a record breaking season in 2014-15 after winning a program record 31 games, finishing 31-3, but were left with a sour taste after falling in the NCAA Central Region Semifinal by a score of 66-65 to Northwest Missouri State. Augustana hosted the Central Region Tournament for the second straight year in 2015-16 after winning the NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships once again.
The Vikings’ 2015-16 campaign seemed destined for greatness after the season began with a 76-74 buzzer-beater win over the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The exhibition win was quickly forgotten when the Vikings lost their season opener against Washburn in Las Vegas. The team responded to the season-opening loss by winning a school record 19 straight games. Following a 90-81 setback at Northern State on Feb. 5, the Vikings responded with a 94-86 win over eighth-ranked MSU Moorhead on the road, closing-out the season with a 15-game winning streak that included NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Championships before taking home the program’s first region championship and a trip to the Elite Eight. The following is a breakdown of Augustana’s run to the 2016 National Championship.
| NCAA TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND - March 12, 2016 - Augustana 100, Harding 85 |
No. 1 seed Augustana University men's basketball had five players in double-figures, led by senior Daniel Jansen who finished with 32 points, as the Vikings earned a 100-85 win over Harding University (20-11) in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Jansen finished the game 10 of 13 from the field, hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range and 9 of 10 free throws for his seventh career 30-plus point game.
Jordan Spencer picked up his second double-double of his career putting up 10 points and 10 assists to go along with five rebounds, one block and one steal.
Augustana finished the game shooting 49.3 percent from the field, after going 16 of 29 (55.2 percent) in the second half. The Vikings out-rebounded Harding 36-27, including 16-8 on the offensive glass. Augustana finished the night with 15 second-chance points. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME |
| NCAA TOURNAMENT SECOND ROUND - March 13, 2016 - Augustana 77, Nebraska-Kearney 67 |
No. 1 seed Augustana University defeated No. 4 seed Nebraska-Kearney (21-12) 77-67 in front of 2,751 fans at the Sanford Pentagon to advance to the NCAA Central Region Championship game for the third time in program history, its first since 2010.
The Vikings shot the lights out in the second half finishing 16 of 27 (59.3 percent) from the field. Augustana had four players in double-figures, led by Daniel Jansen's 19 points. Jansen added nine rebounds and was 7 of 14 from the field and 5 of 5 from the free throw line.
Casey Schilling picked up his 12th double-double of the season (33rd career) finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals. Schilling moved up to second all-time in scoring at Augustana passing former all-time leading scorer Cameron McCaffrey. Schilling has scored 1,976 career points. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME |
| NCAA REGION CHAMPIONSHIP - March 15, 2016 - Augustana 80, Northwest Missouri State 78 |
No. 1 seed Augustana University men's basketball defeated No. 2 seed Northwest Missouri State University (27-6) 80-78 in front of 3,221 fans at the Sanford Pentagon in the NCAA Central Region Championship to advance to the Elite Eight in Frisco, Texas March 23-26. Augustana will be making its first ever appearance in the Elite Eight after winning the program's first ever NCAA Region Championship.
Sophomore guard Jordan Spencer hit two free throws with 4.6 seconds left to give Augustana an 80-78 lead and John Warren came up with a huge steal on Northwest Missouri State's inbound pass to seal the victory for the Vikings.
Augustana finished the game shooting 54.8 percent from the field after shooting 48 percent in the first half. Northwest Missouri State shot a blistering 60.4 percent from the field but the Vikings stretched their lead at the free throw line knocking down 23 of 28 attempts from the line. Schilling led the Vikings with 24 points and six rebounds to go along with two blocks and a steal. Spencer added 17 points and eight assists. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME |
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| ELITE EIGHT INFORMATION PAGE |
| NCAA ELITE EIGHT QUARTERFINAL - March 23, 2016 - Augustana 86, Tarleton State 79 |
No. 2 Augustana University scored 57 points in the second half and erased a 10-point deficit to advance to the NCAA Division II Final Four with an 86-79 win over Tarleton State University (24-9) at Dr Pepper Arena.
Senior forward Alex Richter led the Vikings with a career-high 32 points on the night, picking up 20 in the second half alone. Richter was 8 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. He also hit a career-high 11 free throws on the night. Casey Schilling registered his 13th double-double of the season (34th career) finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists, one block and one steal.
With senior forward Daniel Jansen missing the first game of his entire career due to injury, Zach Huisken made his first start of the season and added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings. Adam Beyer added 12 points and seven rebounds while Jordan Spencer pitched in with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME |
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| FINAL FOUR - MARCH 24, 2016 - AUGUSTANA 74, WESTERN OREGON 55 |
No. 2 Augustana University defeated No. 3 Western Oregon 74-55 at Dr Pepper Arena to advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship game for the first time in program history.
Daniel Jansen, who missed the first game of his career in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, came off the bench and sparked the Vikings with eight straight points to tie the game early. He finished the game with 13 points on 4 of 6 shooting, including 3 of 4 from behind the arc.
Augustana had four players in double-figures in the win. Casey Schilling led the Vikings with 17 points and nine rebounds. The nine rebounds gave Schilling 330 in his career which is a new single season record at Augustana. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME |
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| NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - MARCH 26, 2016 - AUGUSTANA 90, LINCOLN MEMORIAL 81 |
Augustana University men's basketball defeated Lincoln Memorial University 90-81 to win its first ever NCAA Division II National Championship on Saturday, March 26 at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.
Augustana finishes the season with a program record 34 wins and a 34-2 record on the season. LMU finished the year with a record of 34-3.
The National Championship marks the third team title in school history. Augustana won the NCAA Division II women's cross country National Championship in 2011 and softball won a national title in 1991.
Seniors Alex Richter, Casey Schilling and Daniel Jansen each put up 20-plus point performances in the final games of their careers, closing out their final two seasons with a record of 65-5.
Richter, Schilling and Jansen were named to the Elite Eight All-Tournament team and Richter was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. Lincoln Memorial's Gerel Simmons and West Liberty's Seger Bonifant were also named to the all-tournament team.
Richter led the Vikings with 26 points in the national championship game to go along with six rebounds. Jansen added 25 points and nine rebounds and Schilling closed-out his career with a 20-point, 19-rebound performance. FULL RECAP | BOX SCORE | HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME
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