FRISCO, Texas – 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) on Wednesday night at Dr Pepper Arena.
 
With the win, Augustana improves to 32-2 on the season, setting a new single season record for wins. 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.
 
Augustana out-rebounded the Texans 40-36, despite giving up 18 offensive rebounds in the game. The 57 second-half points scored by the Vikings was just nine shy of Tarleton State's season average for points allowed. 

The Vikings shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and hit 7 of 13 3-point attempts. Augustana finished the game shooting 47 percent (24 of 51) from the field.

After hitting just 5 of 11 from the free throw line in the first half, Augustana knocked down 31 of 42 (73.8 percent) in the second half to help chip away at the Tarleton State lead.

Tarleton State, which entered the game shooting 32.2 percent from 3-point range on the season, knocked down 16 of 37 (43 percent) from behind the arc. Augustana has only allowed teams to hit 16 or more threes in a game twice this season.

In a fast-paced first half, Augustana and Tarleton State played to a 17-17 tie through the first eight-plus minutes of the contest. Richter got the Vikings going early in the game connecting on 3 of 3 from behind the arc to lead the Vikings with 12 points in the half.

The Texans worked the offensive glass in the first half, grabbing eight offensive boards, leading to nine second-chance points. Tarleton State was 8 of 16 from 3-point range in the first half. The Texans hit four 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes of the half to build an eight-point lead heading into the locker room.

Augustana finished the first half shooting 41 percent (10 of 24) from the field, but were 4 of 7 (57 percent) from 3-point range. Beyer added seven points for the Vikings, going 3 of 7 from the field with a 3-pointer.

Tarleton State was able to stretch its lead to 10 just over four minutes into the second half when EJ Reed knocked down a 3-pointer to but the Texans in front 48-38 but the Vikings started to chip away at the lead going on an 8-1 run over the next 1:40 to get within two at 49-47 with 14 minutes remaining in the game.

The Texans were able to stretch their lead back up to seven and held a six-point lead of 68-62 with 7:49 remaining in the game.

Spencer hit a pull-up jumper to cut the lead to four and the Vikings were able to tie the game at 70 with 5:03 to play when Schilling knocked down a jump shot. Beyer then hit 1 of 2 free throws with 4:20 to go to give Augustana its first lead since the 12:14 mark of the first half and the Vikings didn't let it go.

Augustana hit nine free throws in the final four minutes of the game and built a 75-70 lead with just under three minutes to play. Tarleton State's Michael Hardge hit a three to cut the lead to two and hit another with 2:15 remaining to get within one at 77-76.

Richter then knocked down two big shots, including a 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining that put Augustana in front 82-76 and the Vikings sealed the game at the line down the stretch for the 86-79 win.

Augustana will play in the Final Four Thursday night, taking on the winner of the Western Oregon and Saginaw Valley State game at 8:30 p.m. (CT).

For more information on Augustana's trip to the Elite Eight, visit www.GoAugie.com/elite8.