Box Score

PEORIA, Ill. – Junior Hunter Hill (Byron HS, Byron, Ill.) fired in a game high 18 points to help lift Augustana to a 58-56 exhibition game victory over NCAA Division I Bradley on Thursday, November 6 in Peoria, Illinois at Carver Arena. The Vikings, ranked third in two NCAA Division III national pre-season polls (D3hoops.com and The Sporting News) never trailed in the contest.
 
Hill was the lone Augustana player in double figures as he hit six of 14 from the floor, including two of six from three point range and was four of five from the free throw line. The smallest guy on the floor, Hill also grabbed six rebounds and led the team with five assists.
 
The largest lead for the Vikings was 12 points with 11:06 left in the first half when Ben Ryan (Washington HS, Washington, Ill.) sank a pair of free throws. The margin was 33-29 at halftime and in the second half the visitors had one double-digit advantage at 15:42 by the score of 42-32.
 
Coming out of intermission Bradley cut the lead to three points (35-32) at 19:06 and then the Vikings countered with a 7-0 run to bump it to 42-32 on a free throw by Tayvian Johnson (United Township HS, East Moline, Ill.).
 
Down the stretch the Braves cut the lead to three (52-49) at 1:21 on a three point field goal by Warren Jones but senior Mark Roth (Washington HS, Metamora, Ill.) drained a three point field goal at :49 to make it 55-49. Bradley trimmed it to 55-51 at :37 on a tip-in by Donte Thomas.
 
Hill's two free throws at :31 made it a six point edge but Omari Grier nailed a pair of free throw at :24 to trim the lead to 57-53. After an Augustana turnover Bradley cut the margin to one point (57-56) on a three point field goal by Thomas.
 
With three seconds left senior Danielius Jurgutis (Downers Grove South HS, Darien, Ill.) hit one of two free throws to account for the final margin.
 
While Hill led the visitors in scoring with his 18 points, Johnson added nine before fouling out late in the second half. Ryan had eight points and junior Jake Norcia (Highland Park HS, Highland Park, Ill.) had six.
 
Bradley got 17 points from Grier and 14 from Warren Jones. The Braves held a 37-34 edge in rebounding with Jermaine Morgan grabbing eight. Augustana's rebounding leader was Hill with six while Ryan and junior Griffin Pils (Libertyville HS, Libertyville, Ill.) each had five.
 
Augustana will open the 2014-15 season on November 16 against Albion in the Mount St. Joseph Tournament.