CINCINNATI, Ohio –Augustana scored the final five points of the game Saturday to grind out a 51-47 win over Albion at the College of Mount St. Joseph's Tip-Off Classic. The third-ranked Vikings (1-0) will face the host Lions on Sunday at noon central time. Mount St. Joseph was an 87-72 winner over Berry in Saturday's second contest.
A Travell Oakes' layup with 3:37 left gave the Britons just their second lead of the second half at 47-46. However, junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) answered with a three-pointer 12 seconds later to put Augustana back on top 49-47. Each team came up empty on its next three possessions before Zach Hurth was forced to foul Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) with 14 seconds left. The Viking junior drained both freebies and Hurth and Jordan Herron missed three-point attempts in the final 10 seconds as Augustana held on for the win.
It was the Britons who jumped in front early to lead for nearly the entire first half. The Vikings' only leads came at 3-2 less than a minute in on a Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) trey and at 21-20 on a Pils layup with 4:52 left in the half. Albion's biggest advantage was 13-6 after a Herron layup at the 14:06 mark. Hill's bucket with 12 seconds on the clock allowed Augustana to go to the break tied at 26.
Carter Elliott split a pair of free throws early in the second half to give the Britons a 27-26 lead, but Hill put the Vikings back on top with a layup. That sparked a 13-4 run which saw Coach Grey Giovanine's club take its biggest lead of the game, 39-31 on a Pils three-pointer with 12:37 to play.
The Vikings still led by seven (46-39) after a Nic Hoepfner (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.) bucket at the 6:45 mark, but Albion answered with a pair of Herron layups and two by Oakes to take its last lead before Hill and Pils sealed the Augustana win with the final five points.
Pils had eight of his game-high 12 points in the second half while not missing a shot. Johnson added 11 points, all of which came in the first half. Junior Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) led the Vikings with six rebounds. Hill and Johnson each had a team-high three assists. Herron led the Britons with 12 points and nine boards.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball. The Vikings connected on 17 of 40 (.425) from the field, five of 14 (.357) from three-point range and just 12 of 22 (.545) from the free throw line. Albion was 18 of 45 (.400) from the floor, four of 15 (.267) from three and seven of 12 (.583) at the line. The Britons held a 30-26 edge on the glass, but committed 19 turnovers to 16 for Augustana.