Stone Shoots Men’s Basketball Past Defending National Champion Augustana, 91-83

Saturday, January 28

St. Cloud, Minn.

6 p.m.

St. Cloud State

16-9, 12-4NSIC

Augustana University (SD)

15-7, 10-6NSIC

Augustana

St. Cloud St.

Scottie Stone

Photo by: Brad Olson

Stone Shoots Men’s Basketball Past Defending National Champion Augustana, 91-83

1/28/2017 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

St. Cloud, Minn. – Senior Scottie Stone scored 13 of the team's last 15 points in the final two minutes of the game to help lead the St. Cloud State men's basketball team (16-9, 12-4 NSIC) to a 91-83 thrilling comeback victory over defending NCAA Division II National Champion Augustana University (15-7, 10-6 NSIC) on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Halenbeck Hall.

Stone ended up with a game-high 28 points including five threes and 11-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. He also picked up four rebounds and two assists. Stone led a balanced team effort with seven players recording at least six points and 10 players getting into the action.

Junior Jon Averkamp scored 18 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Redshirt sophomore Gage Davis chipped in 17 points, six rebounds plus four assists and two steals. Senior Mark Hall totaled eight points, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Freshman Trevon Marshall picked up nine points, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Redshirt freshman Alex O'Neill had six points, five rebounds and a block. Junior Andy Foley accumulated nine rebounds, five points, five assists, a block and two steals.

Augustana saw four players reach double figures led by Adam Beyer's 21 points. Jordan Spencer had 20 points plus six rebounds, six assists and two steals. Mike Busack produced 16 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus Asmus also reached double figures with 10 points.

The shooting percentage for both teams was nearly identical with Augustana holding a slight edge 45.5 (30-for-66) to 45.3 (29-for-64). The three-point percentage was also nearly even with the Huskies holding the advantage 34.5 (10-for-29) to 33.3 (7-for-21). Augustana hit their free throws at a higher rate 84.2 to 76.7, but SCSU made more from the charity stripe, 23 to 16. The game was a back-and-forth affair that featured nine tied scores and 18 lead changes. Augustana's largest lead was nine with just over eight minutes remaining in the game, while SCSU had a 10-point lead with 16 seconds left in the contest in the midst of an 18-4 run.

After trailing by a point at the half, SCSU saw the deficit grow to nine points, 73-64, on the second of two made free throws from Jordan Spencer with 8:01 remaining in the contest. A 9-2 run finished off by a Mark Hall made three got the Huskies to within two with 5:31 remaining in the contest, 77-75. The Huskies finally caught up and then took the lead as Stone knock down both of free throws, 78-77, only to see Augustana wrestle the advantage back on the ensuing driving layup from Beyer. Stone's end of the game show was just beginning as he hit both of his threes on back-to-back possession to get the Huskies up five points, 84-79, with just under a minute on the clock. After another defensive stop, Stone was fouled and hit both of his free throws to put SCSU up seven points, 86-79. Augustana then brought lead back to five on another Beyer layup before Stone hit three of his next four attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch to drive the lead back out to eight, 89-81, with 19 seconds showing on the clock. Following another empty possession for AU, Davis was fouled and hit both of his attempts to get the lead into double figures, 91-81. Augustana then hit both of their free throws at the end of the game to make the final margin 91-83.

The Huskies are next on the road to take on Concordia St. Paul on Friday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m.

Notes
- The win over Augustana was the first for the program since the 2013-14 season.
- Scottie Stone led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season and the 27th time in his career with his 28 points.
- Stone has now scored 25 or more points in eight games on the campaign.
- Jon Averkamp's 18 points was his 14th game in double figures this season and the 28th time in his career.
- Gage Davis' 17 points was his 24th game in double figures this season.
- Andy Foley tied his career-high with nine rebounds.
- The game marked the second time this weekend and the sixth time this season that SCSU has used a second half comeback for a victory.
- The Huskies are 9-0 this season and 17-1 over the last two years when scoring 90 or more points.