Box Score #18 Augustana 94 Wayne State 87 (OT)

            Wayne State battled #18 Augustana until going 0 for 6 from the field in overtime as the host Vikings rallied for a 94-87 win over the Wildcats Monday evening in the Northern Sun Conference opener for both teams played at the Sioux Falls Arena.  WSC drops to 1-2 on the year and 0-1 in the league while Augustana is 4-1 and 1-0 in the NSIC.
            The Wildcats started quickly, taking an 8-3 lead on the Vikings.  Augustana then went on a 13-3 run and took the lead from WSC at 16-11.  The Vikings pushed their lead to double digits at 11 at 30-19 with 9:54 to go in the half following a John Warren 3-pointer. 
            WSC then responded with nine of the next 10 points, highlighted by five points from redshirt freshman Luke TerHark that ended with a 3-pointer pulling the Wildcats within one at 40-39 with 2:32 left in the half.  But Augustana finished the half strong and held a 48-44 lead at intermission.
            The start of the second half was a string of runs by both teams.  WSC opened the half with the first eight points for a 52-48 lead.  After WSC took a 59-51 lead on a Ben Hoskins 3-pointer, Augustana scored eight points in just 90 seconds to even the score at 59-59.
            With the score tied at 64-64, Wayne State went on a 13-4 run and took their biggest lead of the game at 77-68 on a Matt Thomas 3-pointer with 5:27 remaining. 
            But Augustana charged back and got within three at 79-76 on a Levi Jansen trey with 4:05 to play.
            WSC maintained a lead until the final minute of regulation.  The 'Cats still led 86-81 with 1:36 remaining following an Austin Esters layup.  The Vikings, however, chipped away at the lead and tied the score at 86 on a Steven Schaefer three-point play with 54 seconds to play.
            The Wildcats missed a pair of shots in the final minute while Augustana missed one for a chance to win the game, sending the contest into overtime at 86-86.
            Nearly two minutes went by until the first team scored in overtime as Augustana's Adam Beyer scored a basket at the 3:02 mark of overtime to give the Vikings their first lead at 88-86 since 19:23 to play in the second half.
            Wayne State's first points of the overtime came with 2:46 left in extra time when Kendall Jacks made one of two free throws to get the 'Cats within two at 89-87.  But that would be the lone point for the Wildcats in overtime as Wayne State goes 0 for 6 from the field and Augustana made free throws down the stretch for the 94-87 overtime win.
            WSC ended the night making 30 of 58 shots for 51.7 percent after spending most of the night shooting 60 percent.  The 'Cats were 8 of 24 from the 3-point line and 19 for 27 at the free throw line.
            Junior Jordan Cornelius paced Wayne State in scoring with 21 points on 8 of 14 shooting.  Kendall Jacks (15), Matt Thomas (11) and Luke TerHark (10) also hit double digits for the Wildcats.
            Augustana made 27 of 55 shots for 49 percent, going 10 for 22 from downtown and 30 for 46 at the free throw line.  Jordan Spencer led the Vikings with 23 points followed by Mike Busack with 14 and Adam Beyer and Steven Schaefer with 10 apiece.
            The Vikings won the rebounding battle over WSC 38-27 with Beyer grabbing seven for Augustana while Jacks and Brian Goodwin each hauled in six boards for the Wildcats. 
            WSC had five players foul out of the game and was called for 37 fouls compared to 26 on the Vikings.  Augustana held a 22-3 advantage in second chance points but WSC outscored the Vikings in the paint 34-22.
            Wayne State will be on the road over Thanksgiving weekend traveling to Canyon, Texas for the Pak A Sak Classic hosted by West Texas A&M.  The Wildcats face host West Texas A&M Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. followed by a Saturday 12 p.m. contest against Eastern New Mexico.