The Augustana Vikings captured their third significant victory of the week to win the CCIW tournament on Saturday, February 24. The Vikings beat the North Central Cardinals 77-74 in an intense championship game.
Although the Vikings didn’t score for the last 1:32 minutes, they were able to hold off the number three CCIW ranked Cardinals for the remainder of the game. North Central scored two more baskets, but it was not enough to take down the number one-ranked Vikings.
The last two Augustana points were made by Augustana sophomore, Micah Martin, who really proved himself after not playing for two weeks due to a meniscus injury. He was the lead scorer for the Vikings with 18 points.
The two teams went back and forth throughout the game, but especially in the first half where there were five ties and three lead changes. The largest lead that North Central held was by one point.
When the Cardinals gained their second lead of the night in the first half, the Vikings responded with a 7-0 run to be ahead by six. Four of those points were made by two of Augustana’s bench players, Martin and freshman, Carson Frakes. The bench was once again a crucial part in securing the victory, scoring a combined total of 37 points in the game.
However, the Cardinals then went on a 5-0 run to make the score 29-28 at the half.
The two teams battled back and forth again at the start of the second half until North Central allowed for the sixth tie of the game at 35-35 with 17:31 left.
The Vikings earned their largest lead of the night being ahead by nine after a technical foul was called on North Central’s bench. The Vikings then kept a steady lead for a few minutes until the Cardinals brought the score back to 59-58 with 7:59 remaining.
Back to back three-point shots made by Augustana juniors Brett Benning and Nolan Ebel then brought the Vikings back to a seven-point lead. Ebel’s shot was the last field goal made by the Vikings, but it was the last six free throw shots that ensured Augustana’s victory.
With this win, the Vikings earn a spot in the NCAA Division III tournament, in which the team finished runner-up last year.
Photo above: Augustana Vikings Nolan Ebel (’19) and Dylan Sortillo (’18) celebrate their win against North Central, 77-74, at the CCIW Tournament Championship on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. The Vikings are headed to the NCAA tournament. Photo by Maria Do.