WHITEWATER, Wis. - The UW-Whitewater men's basketball team topped Augustana (IL) 87-68 in Kachel Gym Saturday night to advance to the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Quarterfinals. The Warhawks will face Texas-Dallas at a site to be determined March 14. Texas-Dallas drained a three from the top of the key as time ran out to defeat Whitworth 78-77 and advance to the round of 16. Click here to go to UW-Whitewater Championship Website. More information regarding the next game will be posted when available.

Photo Gallery courtesy of Jenny DuPuis

The first half was close with the largest lead only seven points. The Vikings scored the opening bucket of the game but never led the rest of the way. The margin fluctuated between one and five until a 7-2 run capped by a Cody Odegaard (Poynette/Poynette) layup gave UW-W 34-27 lead, the largest of the half, with 4:44 left in the first half. The Warhawks had a 44-39 advantage heading into intermission. 

UW-W scored eight second chance points without allowing any for Augustana and the Warhawks had a 22-12 advantage in points in the paint. The team stats were similar across the board with the exception of rebounds where UW-W posted a 20-11 advantage.

Augustana made their first five baskets in the second half and added a free throw but the Warhawks answered to maintain the lead. With the score 52-50 in favor of UW-W, the Warhawks rattled off 18 of the next 20 points to push the margin to 18, 70-52, with nine minutes left in the game. The lead never dipped below double figures the rest of the way.

The second half turned into the KJ Evans (Beloit/Beloit Memorial) show with the junior guard posting 17 points on 6-9 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the line in the second 20 minutes. Quardell Young (Kenosha/Bradford) added 12 in the second half on 3-5 from the floor and 5-6 from the charity stripe. 

Whitewater made 31-55 (56.4%) from the field and 20-25 (80%) from the free throw line in the game. Augustana was 24-55 (43.6%) and 17-23 (73.9%) from the charity stripe in the contest. UW-W held a 38-24 advantage on the glass.

Evans led all players with 25 points and 12 boards, his tenth double-double performance this season. Young ended with 18 and added three assists and two steals. Odegaard, Reggie Hearn (Milwaukee/Marshall) and Alex Merg (Greendale/Greendale) each scored in double digits with 14, 11 and 10 points respectively. Hunter Hill led Augustana with 18 points in the game.