The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team played its final home game of the calendar year Wednesday night, defeating Augustana (Ill.) 82-65 in a non-conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.

The Warhawks (8-3 overall) led nearly wire-to-wire by shooting 59.6 percent from the floor, including 69 percent in the first half, and holding the Vikings to 42.4 percent. UW-W held a 44-24 scoring advantage in the paint.

Derek Gray recorded a game-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds and two assists. Carter Capstran tallied a season-best 16 points and seven rebounds.

Gage Malensek posted 15 points, seven assists, two steals and two blocked shots, while Jack Brahm collected 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks. Elijah Lambert finished with nine points and four rebounds.

Augustana (5-6) tied the game at 2-2 before UW-Whitewater took the lead for good just under one minute into the game on a 3-pointer by Gray.

The Vikings drew to within four points on four different occasions before the Warhawks stretched their lead to 10 points following back-to-back jumpers by Gray and Lambert. The advantage grew to 15 points at the 3:34 mark on a step-back jumper by Gray.

Malensek knocked down a 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half to give UW-W a 49-31 halftime lead.

Augustana closed to within 51-41 just under three minutes into the second half, but Brahm and Malensek converted back-to-back layups to push the margin back to 15 just before the 16-minute media timeout.

After the Vikings closed to 12 points just past the 8-minute mark, Capstran and Gray knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to make it 76-58 with 5:01 on the clock.

UW-Whitewater took its largest lead of the game at 81-60 after a 3-pointer by Gray with 3:52 remaining.

The Warhawks head to Atlanta, Ga., for games on Dec. 29-30. UW-W faces host Emory on the 29th starting at 3 p.m. Central Time.