The Millikin men's basketball team defeated Augustana College 70-45 breaking a 30 game losing streak against the Vikings and posting the Big Blue's first win since the 2005-06 season.
The statement win by first year head coach Kramer Soderberg's squad in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) should let other teams in the conference know that things have changed for the better in the Big Blue program.
Millikin lead 36-28 at halftime and outscored the Vikings by 17 points in the second half. Millikin's biggest lead of the game was 28 points with five minutes left in the game.
Millikin shot 54 percent (28-52) from the field making 7-19 (37 percent) from three point range. Millikin's aggressive defense make the Vikings uncomfortable for the entire game with Augustana shooting on 31 percent (16-51) from the field and 4-22 (18 percent) from three-point range. Millikin dominated the paint offensively outscoring Augustana 38-20 and out rebounding the Vikings 30-28.
Millikin was led by senior Calvin Fisher with his fourth double double of the season scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Cole Laurence had a career high 18 points to match Fisher for the team high. JT Welch added 10 points for the Big Blue. Jake Hampton added eight points and Scott Gowan had seven points.
The Vikings top scorer was Carter Duwa with 13 points. Millikin shut down Augustana's top scorer on the season Dan Carr holding him to three points and eight rebounds. He was averaging a double double in points and rebounds on the season.
Millikin improves to 5-3 (1-0) while Augustana falls to 4-4 (0-1). Millikin will get another test on Wednesday, December 8 when they host undefeated and nationally seventh ranked Elmhurst University at 7 p.m.