SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Mavericks used deadly outside shooting to build a big lead, then had to fight off a second half rally before notching a 68-64 win over Augustana in the North Central Conference opener for both teams Thursday night.
Senior guard
Calvin Kapels led UNO with 17 points, junior guard
Zac Robinson added 16 and freshman
Michael Jenkins 14.
"We came out with a lot of energy, had a lull, but I thought we rebounded well after they made a run to take control again," head coach
Derrin Hansen said. The Mavs won their second straight game to improve to 10-7 overall, but it was their first true road win of the season. "We'll take a conference road win anytime," Hansen said.
Junior guard
Zac Robinson nailed three straight three-pointers midway through the first half and
Michael Jenkins added two field goals and a three-pointer as UNO went on a 20-8 tear over the final seven minutes of the first half to take a 35-21 lead into intermission.
Viking guard Joey Ryan, who scored 20 of his game-high 26 points the second half, ignited an Augustana rally that closd the gap to 49-47 with 8:44 to play.
The Mavericks responded with an 8-0 run, started by
Calvin Kapels' three-pointer to lead by 10 with 4:48 left, but the Vikings wouldn't go away. Ian Thomas connected from behind the arc as Augustana pulled up to within 61-57 with 1:50 to play.
That was as close as the Vikings could get, however, as Kapels nailed three of four from the line in the closing minute.
The Mavericks shot 50 percent each half and hit 7 of 15 from behind the arc for 46.7 percent. Besides Ryan's 26, Excell Hardy added 14 points for the Vikings, who fell to 7-8.
UNO will travel Friday before meeting North Dakota in Grand Forks on Saturday night at 8. Saturday's contest will be broadcast over KOIL, 1020 AM.
