SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Augustana knocked down 14 3-pointers and overcame a seven-point deficit in the final seven and a half minutes to upset the University of Nebraska at Omaha in North Central Conference men's basketball action, 89-86, Thursday night at the Elmen Center.
No. 20 UNO falls to 16-4, 2-3 in NCC play, while the Vikings go to 16-5, 4-2.
The Mavericks held a two-point lead at halftime, 40-38, after a
Jerry Bennett layup with 1:17 left. It was the only time the Mavs led in the first half. Led by Ian Thomas' 16 points, the Vikings led the first 18-plus minutes, with the margin reaching as many as nine points with 6:21 left.
Corey McIntosh hit three free throws after being fouled on a long-range shot to open the second half, putting the Vikings back in the lead by a point.
Denny Johnston hit two 3-pointers within a minute as the teams battled back and forth. A short jumper by
Andrew Bridger put UNO up, 50-48, with 14:20 to play. The Mavs would push the lead to seven points when Johnston made a steal and a layup to make it 70-63 with 7:33 to play.
The Mavericks held on, but Augustana's rally finally put the Vikings back on top, 79-78, with 2:15 left on jumper by McIntosh. Two free throws by Bennett put UNO back up by a point momentarily, but another basket from McIntosh put Augie back up. The Mavs got six points from
Michael Jenkins in the final moments, but the Vikings sank all six of their free throw tries in the final 30 seconds to preserve the win.
Johnston and Jenkins led the Mavericks with 18 points each, followed closely by
Mitch Albers with 17 and Bennett with 16. Johnston and Bennett had seven rebounds each.
McIntosh led all scorers with 32 points, going 4-for-8 on 3-point tries and 12-for-13 at the free throw line. The Vikings shot 52.9 percent overall, 51.9 percent from beyond the arc (14-for-27).
The Mavericks next face St. Cloud State back at Sapp Fieldhouse Saturday at 4 p.m.
