The Millikin University men's basketball team's bid to upset #1 Augustana College came up just short as the Big Blue lost 71-68 in front of a large enthusiastic crowd at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois on January 24.

          Augustana lead the entire first half, but the Big Blue stayed close with the Vikings leading 36-26 at halftime.  Millikin continued to hang around in the second half setting the stage for a late rally that would bring the Big Blue ever so close to the upset.  TJ Griffin's layup brought the Big Blue to within two at 65-63 with 1:47 left to play.  Augustana's Ben Ryan would answer to make it 67-63 Vikings.  Millikin freshman Nathan Biggs hit a layup with 55 seconds left to make it 67-65.  Hunter Hill's two free throws gave the Vikings a four point advantage at 69-65 with 29 seconds to play.

Millikin's TJ Sims who had a career night for the Big Blue hit two free throws with 21 seconds remaining to make it 69-67.  After an Augustana turnover, Big Blue freshman Nathan Biggs would convert on one of two at the line to make it 69-68.  Griffin Pils would make two free throws with four seconds left to give the Vikings a 71-68 advantage.  Millikin had a shot to tie the game at the buzzer, but Jacob Kueker's three point attempt bounced off the front rim.

          Sims was the big story for the Big Blue scoring 27 of his career high 33 points in the second half to spur the Millikin comeback.  Sims ended the night 9-13 from the field including 2-3 from three-point range.  He was perfect 13-13 at the line tying a Millikin record for free throw percentage.  Several players have hit 100 percent for the game with Sims matching Jeff Bottorff's 13-13 mark in 1989.  Biggs had 17 points and four rebounds.  Griffin added 12 points.

          The Vikings had four players in double figures led by Ryan with 16 and Hill with 15.

          Augustana shot 47 percent from the field while Millikin hit on 44 percent.  The Vikings had the edge in rebounding 33-22.

          Augustana improves to 16-2, 6-1 and are ranked first in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll.  Millikin drops to 7-11, 2-5.