BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana, ranked No. 4 in this week's NCAA Central Region rankings, connected on 10 3-point field goals and earned a 83-70 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Augustana's Cameron McCaffrey led all scorers with 29 points connecting on 10 of 19 field goals. Cody Schilling added 20 points, while Leif Nomeland added 15 points drilling a game-high four 3-point field goals.

The Vikings, who lost to conference leading Minnesota State last night, have now won nine of its last 10 games and improves to 15-6 overall, 12-5 NSIC. SMSU drops its third straight overall and falls to 9-12 overall, 6-11 NSIC.

It was SMSU's 10th straight road loss this season since opening the season with a road victory at Northwest Missouri State.

Scott Roehl posted his 11th double-double of the season to lead SMSU with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Matt Zager and Jordan Miller each added 12 points apiece.

The Vikings closed the first half on a critical 21-8 run, snapping a 15-all tie to build a 36-23 halftime lead and never looked back to earn the victory.

Both teams struggled shooting in the first 13 and a half minutes as the two squads combined to make just 10 of 29 field goal attempts as Augustana built a five-point lead. The cold-shooting wouldn't last as the Vikings would heat up from the field late in the half.

Following a Zager basket with 11:15 on the clock cut the Viking lead to 11-10, SMSU failed to score again until a Roehl field goal with 5:51 left in the half. Roehl's basket cut the Augustana lead to 15-12, before Vinard Birch completed a three-point play to tie the score at 15 with 5:24 remaining.

The Vikings then put together its late half rally to push the lead to double digits.

McCaffrey and Schilling combined to score 25 of the Vikings' points in the half and made 10 of its 14 field goals. The Vikings shot 56 percent (14 of 25) in the first half with three 3-pointers.

SMSU shot just 35 percent in the opening half and committed nine turnovers.

In the second half, a pair of Zager free throws cut the Augustana lead to nine points, but the Vikings' Nomeland connected on three 3-pointers in a span of less than 90 seconds to push the Augustana lead to 47-30.

SMSU trailed by double digits for much of the second half, before trimming the deficit to eight points on three different occasions, but Augustana though made enough plays down the stretch to hold onto the victory and avenge a 66-64 SMSU victory earlier this season in Marshall.

Southwest Minnesota State returns home next weekend for a pair of NSIC contest at the R/A Facility. The Mustangs take on Concordia, St. Paul on Friday, Feb. 11, and St. Cloud State on Saturday, Feb. 12.