Box Score
Augustana used a key 15-2 run to erase a nine-point second-half deficit and defeat the University of Mary 70-66 Friday night at the Elmen Center.
The Vikings improved to 17-7 overall and 11-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after evening the season series with the Marauders. U-Mary slipped to 6-18 overall and 4-13 in the NSIC.
Augustana trailed 36-32 at halftime as U-Mary had the hot shooting touch. The Marauders continued to shoot well at the start of the second half as they built their lead to 49-40 with 15 minutes left in the game.
But the Vikings warmed up themselves. After shooting 40 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, Augustana began to raise that figure, thanks to freshman
Cody Schilling. Schilling sparked the critical 15-2 run that gave the Vikings the lead for good at 55-41 with 10:27 on the clock. Schilling scored 10 of the first 12 Vikings’ points during the rally to highlight the outburst.
Augustana led the remainder of the game, but the Vikings never led by more than 6 points.
The first half was equally tight. Neither team led by more than 5 points for the first 15 minutes of the game, until a 3-pointer by U-Mary’s Geoff West gave the Marauders a 32-25 lead with 3:46 left in the half.
U-Mary extended the lead to 36-28 with just under 2 minutes remaining in the stanza by two buckets by Schilling, the last coming just before the halftime buzzer, trimmed the deficit to 36-32 at intermission.
Augustana shot 50 percent from the floor in the second half as the Vikings made 12 of 24 shots. The Vikings also took advantage of getting to the free throw line. Augie made 19 of 27 charity tosses, while UM was 5 of 5 at the stripe.
Eric Krogman and
Marques Blank joined Schilling in double figures. Krogman netted 15 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, while Blank poured in 13 points.
Jordan Wilhelm led all scorers with 30 points on 11 of 17 shooting. Danny Sandvig also scored 12 points.
Augustana returns to action Saturday night when the Vikings take on Northern State. Augustana and NSU are currently in a four-way tie for fourth place in the NSIC standings. Tipoff is set for 8:03 p.m.