Augie defeats MSUM to Win NSIC Title - Mar 9, 2015

Augustana men's basketball won its third game in as many days to capture the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament with a 98-82 victory over MSU Moorhead (32-3) on Tuesday night in front of 3,203 fans at the Sanford Pentagon. The victory secured the first ever NSIC Tournament Championship since joining the league in 2008-09.

Augustana improved to 30-2 on the year, marking the first 30-win season in program history. The Vikings were led by NSIC Tournament Most Valuable Player Casey Schilling (6'6''-F-94) who scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season (20th career). Schilling was the MVP selection after averaging 23 points and 11.5 rebounds while shooting 55 percent from the field, including 54 percent from 3-point range.

Alex Richter (6'5''-G-92) came up with a huge performance in the championship game scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds for his first career double-double. Daniel Jansen (6'9''-F-94), after being held scoreless in the first half, went on a tear in the final 20 minutes scoring 21 points and six rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals.

The Vikings finished the game shooting 53.6 percent from the field and knocked down 15 of 28 3-pointers on the night. The Vikings improved to 15-0 on the year when knocking down 10 or more 3-pointers.

How it happened
� Both teams got off to a lightning-fast start playing to a 12-12 tie through the first five minutes of the contest.
� Trailing 9-6 after a 3-pointer by Ngijol Songolo (6'3''-G-94), Tanner Odegaard (5'10''-PG) came off the bench and hit 3-pointers on back-to-back 3-pointers to give Augustana a 12-9 lead.
� MSUM's Aaron Lien (6'4''-G-95) responded with one of his own to tie the score at 12 with 15:11 remaining in the first half.
� The two teams continued to trade blows over- the next 4:33, playing to four tie scores before the Dragons took a 21-20 on an off-balance 3-pointer by Jordan Riewer (6'2''-G-91).
� Augustana started attacking the rim every time down the floor and scored six of its next nine points in the paint on a 9-2 run that gave the Vikings a 29-23 lead.
� Urbane Bingham (6'8''-F-93) kept MSU Moorhead in the game scoring six of the Dragons' next eight points to cut Augustana's lead to three at 34-31 with 4:40 remaining in the half.
� The Vikings ended the half on a 15-5 run, getting six straight points, including a 3-pointer before the buzzer from Zach Huisken (6'9''-F) to take a 49-36 lead at the break.
� Huisken converted a 3-point-play before Casey Schilling (6'6''-F-94) saved a ball from going out of bounds finding an open Huisken in the corner for a 3-pointer before the half expired.
� Both teams shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but the Vikings knocked down 8 of 16 from 3-point range and hit 7 of 9 free throws to take the lead at the break.
� Alex Richter (6'5''-G-92) finished the half with 12 points and eight rebounds while Casey Schilling (6'6''-F-94) pitched in with 13 points and three boards.
� Adam Beyer (6'6''-G-94), Jordan Spencer (6'2''-G-94), Tanner Odegaard (5'10''-PG) and Zach Huisken all scored six points in the first 20 minutes.
� The Vikings continued to force the issue early in the second half pushing its lead up to 18 at 58-40 after Daniel Jansen (6'9''-F-94) scored his first basket of the night with 15:59 to play.
� Jordan Riewer started to assert himself into the game sparking a 13-4 run for the Dragons over the next 2:11 to cut Augustana's lead back to single digits at 62-53.
� Riewer's counterpoint for the NSIC Player of the Year award, Daniel Jansen (6'9''-F-94), nine straight and Schilling capped-off a 12-7 run with his career-high tying fourth 3-pointer of the night to put Augustana back up by 14 at 74-60 with 9:42 remaining in the game.
� The Dragons went on a 15-7 run over the next four minutes to get within six after a Tanner Kretchman (6'0''-PG) 3-pointer that made the score 86-80 with less than three minutes to play.
� Jordan Spencer (6'2''-G-94) answered with a triple from the top of the key and the Vikings would score 12 of the last 14 points in the game to secure its first ever NSIC Tournament Championship with a 98-82 victory.

Inside the Box Score
� Augustana secured its first ever 30-win season while winning its first ever NSIC Tournament Championship.
� Casey Schilling (6'6''-F-94) was named the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Most Valuable Player.
� Augustna's Daniel Jansen (6'9''-F-94) and Alex Richter (6'5''-G-92) were also both named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team.
� Schilling scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season (20th career).
� Schilling has scored 20-plus points in a game 15 times this season and 27 times in his career.
� Schillnig added four assists, three blocks and one steal and knocked down a career-high five 3-pointers.
� Alex Richter (6'5''-G-92) registered his first career double-double scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds.
� Daniel Jansen (6'9''-F-94) was held scoreless in the first half but would not be kept off the score sheet.
� Jansen scored 21 points in the second half and added six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
� Jordan Spencer (6'2''-G-94) nearly picked up a double-double finishing with 11 points and eight assists.
� Spencer has dished out five or more assists in 13 straight games and 23 times this season.
� Adam Beyer (6'6''-G-94) pitched in with eight points and four assists.
� The Vikings improved to 15-0 on the year when hitting 10-plus 3-pointers finishing 15 of 28.
� Augustana shot 53.6 percent from the field, marking the 17th time shooting better than 50 percent from the field on the season.
� Augustana out-rebounded MSU Moorhead 39-29 and scored 20 second chance points.
� Augustana is ranked No. 6 in the NABC Top 25 Poll and No. 1 in the NCAA Central Region Rankings.

NSIC Tournament Final: Augustana - MSU Moorhead 98-82
NSIC Tournament Semifinals:
Augustana - Northern State 67-65, OT
MSU Moorhead - Minnesota State 81-80

Courtesy of NorthernSun