By: by Tim Evans

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 1 seed Augustana University (26-2) outlasted No. 5 seed University of Sioux Falls (17-13) by a final score of 105-100 in a quarterfinal matchup in the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday night in front of 3,182 fans.
 
The 205 combined points between Augustana and USF set a new NSIC Tournament record. The previous record of 191 combined points which was set by MSU Moorhead and Wayne State on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.
 
With the win, Augustana advances to the semifinals of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament where it will play the winner of Northern State and Winona State on Monday, Feb. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
Daniel Jansen led all players with 31 points on the night on 9 of 13 shooting, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range. Jansen also knocked in 10 of 12 free throws and added five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The 30-point performance by Jansen is his second of the season sixth of his career.
 
Casey Schilling had a huge game for the Vikings finishing with 26 points, nine rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. Schilling moved up to third all-time in scoring at Augustana in tonight's win over the Cougars passing his older brother Cody. Schilling has now scored 1,890 career points and sits alone at third all-time and 74 points shy of second all-time.
 
Jordan Spencer was one point shy of his career-high finishing with 22 to go along with four rebounds and four assists.
 
Adam Beyer pitched in with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting and John Warren padded seven points, two rebounds and two assists off the bench.
 
The Vikings shot 65.5 percent from the field in the second half to finish the game shooting 58.2 percent (32 of 55). Augustana was 7 of 20 from 3-point range but knocked down a season-high 34 free throws. The Vikings finished the game shooting a season-high 82.9 percent from the free throw line.
 
USF was 39 of 70 (55.7 percent) from the field and hit 11 of 25 from 3-point range. The Cougars had six players in double-figures and were led in scoring by Clint Thomas' 20 points.
 
The Vikings jumped out to an early lead on hot shooting in the first half. The Vikings opened up a 6-0 lead eventually stretching it to 8-2 before the Cougars started to heat up from three to cut Augustana's lead down to one.
 
Spencer answered with a three to put the Vikings back in front by four and the two teams went on to trade points over the next two minutes as Augustana held a 15-14 lead with 14:59 remaining in the half. The Vikings started the game 5 of 7 from the field through the first five minutes.
 
Freshman guard John Warren came off the bench and hit a transition 3-pointer that sparked an 8-0 run out of the media timeout and the Vikings were able to push their lead up to 22-14.
 
Augustana led by as much as seven over the next five minutes of the half until USF put together a 19-5 run during a nearly six minute stretch of the first half, with Jansen on the bench in foul trouble, the Cougars build an eight-point lead at 45-37 with 1:24 remaining in the half.
 
Augustana was able to keep the Cougars off the board in the final minute of the half going on an 5-0 run to get within three at 45-42 at the break.
 
The Vikings finished the half shooting 50 percent (13 of 26) from the field. Augustana was just 3 of 11 from 3-point range but knocked down 13 of 14 free throws. USF shot 56 percent (18 of 32) from the field in the half and connected on 5 of 11 3-pointers.
 
Augustana opened up the second half on a 9-2 run to regain the lead. The Vikings took a four-point lead before the Cougars got five straight points after a Viking turnover and Drew Guebert hit a 3-pointer to put USF back in front 52-51 with 16:18 remaining in the game.
 
Spencer answered with a three on the other end for the Vikings and after a steal by Schilling Jansen made it back-to-back threes for Augustana giving his team a 57-52 lead.
 
Augustana was able to stretch its lead to eight twice over the next six minutes but the Cougars put together an 8-0 run to cut it to one. The Vikings stretched the lead back up to six at 67-67 with 11:59 to play after a bucket by Schilling but the Cougars continued to hit contested shots as Guebert hit another three to make it 69-68 with just over 10 to play.
 
With a 79-78 lead and just under six minutes to play, Jansen knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game from the top of the key and the Vikings would eventually stretch the lead back up to 10 at 9484 with 2:16 to play.
 
The Vikings and Cougars continued to trade buckets in the final two minutes of the game but the Vikings were able to keep the lead hitting seven free throws down the stretch to maintain the lead.
 
Augustana is now 9-6 all-time in the NSIC Tournament and advances to the semifinals for the second straight season.
 
The Vikings will play the winner of the Northern State and Winona State game on Monday, Feb. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sanford Pentagon.