Box Score             Host Augustana used strong first half shooting, then held off a second half Wayne State rally to defeat the Wildcats 75-62 Wednesday evening in the opening round of the NSIC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls.  Wayne State ends the season at 16-14 while the Vikings advance in the NSIC Tournament with a 19-10 record. 
            The Wildcats opened the game strong from behind the arc as Alec Millender, Trey Deveaux and Sean Stokes sank consecutive 3-pointers putting WSC in front 9-3 early. 
            A JJ Ferrin 3-pointer gave the 'Cats a 12-9 lead and Noah Erickson's layup at the 10:07 mark saw Wayne State hold a 16-15 lead.
            But Augustana scored on their next two possessions to take the lead for good at 20-16.  A basket by Millender for WSC tied the score at 22-22 at the 6:07 mark, but the host Vikings went on a 10-0 run over the next 3:44 to take a 32-22 lead. 
            A Noah Erickson 3-pointer ended the scoring drought to get the 'Cats within seven at 32-25, but the Vikings pushed the lead to 12 and closed the half with a 38-28 lead.
            Augustana sank 8 of 12 3-pointers in the opening half while WSC, after a strong start from behind the arc, ended the opening half 5 of 17.
            The host Vikings held a double-digit lead for most of the second half until Wayne State made a scoring run to get as close as five with just under five minutes to play.
            Augustana took their biggest lead of the contest at 57-40 with 8:07 remaining.
            Wayne State made the game close by scoring 11 straight points to cut the Vikings' lead to 57-51 with 5:48 to play following a pair of Trey Deveaux free throws.  David Harmon's 3-pointer cut the Viking lead to five at 61-56 with 4:37 to go.
            Augustana scored the next six points to get the lead back to double figures at 67-56 and the 'Cats could only get as close as eight the rest of the way.
            Deveaux scored 18 points to lead Wayne State in scoring while Millender also hit double figures with 14. 
            WSC shot 22 of 64 from the field for 34.4 percent.  The 'Cats were 8 for 28 from 3 point range and 10 of 12 at the foul line.
            Isaac Fink poured in a game-high 20 points for Augustana.  Jadan Graves chipped in 14, Arhman Lewis had 12 and Akoi Akoi scored 10.
            The Vikings made 25 of 52 shots for 48 percent and hit 10 of 21 from the 3-point line for 47.6 percent.  Augustana was 15 of 22 at the line.
            Augustana held a 39-27 edge in rebounding as Deveaux grabbed seven boards for the 'Cats.