News Release

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — 11/23/04 – AUGUSTANA 94, BELOIT 77

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - Torrid shooting, both from the field and the free throw line, helped lift Augustana to its first win of the 2004-05 season by a margin of 94-77 over visiting Beloit in non-conference action. After losing to NCAA Division I power Southern Illinois on Sunday by a score of 83-59, the Vikings jumped all over the Buccaneers early. They roared out to a 50-30 halftime lead, helped by .576 (19-33) shooting in the first 20 minutes. The hot hand continued for Augustana as the Blue & Gold shot .636 (14-22) in the second half for healthy .600 (33-55) for the entire game. At the free throw line the Vikings missed just once in 18 attempts. Beloit led 14-10 with the game less than five minutes old (15:51) when Drew Wessels (Bettendorf HS, Bettendorf, IA) nailed a three pointer to make it 14-13. After one made free throw by Beloit’s Nick Hendry, Joe Caricato (St. Charles East HS, St. Charles, IL) tied the game at 15-15 on a layup and shortly after that Joe Baumann (Carmel HS, Mundelein, IL – now resides in Clifton Park, NY) drilled a three pointer and Augustana was never headed. Wessels three pointer to draw his team within one started a 34-7 run over the next 10 minutes and when the smoke cleared the Vikings led 44-21 following a layup by Pat Brusveen (Neuqua Valley HS, Naperville, IL) at 4:22. In the second half the lead grew as big as 30 (70-40 at 12:17) before a late Beloit run eventually cut the advantage to 15 (82-67) at 4:38. Baumann led all scorers with 22 points as Augustana had five players in double figures. Jay McAdams-Thornton (Moline HS, Moline, IL) dropped in 14, Travis Hoyt (Moline HS, Moline, IL) had 12 and Wessels and Rick Harrigan (Brother Rice HS, Chicago, IL) each scored 10. Hoyt had a fine all-around game with six rebounds, four assists and five of six from the field and two of two from the free throw line.