CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Coe College men's basketball team kept its unbeaten run to begin the season alive on Tuesday evening at Kohawk Arena, knocking off Augustana College 73-62. Coe got another hot start for the second game running, scoring the first 10 points of the game to grab control. Augustana settled into the game and forced the issue, picking up a three-quarter-court press which allowed them to keep pace with Coe. The Kohawks, who led 44-35 at the break, saw Augustana immediately cut into the lead in the second half with a quick 9-5 spurt. Coe put an end to the run during the next phase of the game, outscoring Augustana 12-4 before the midway point to regain a double-digit lead which it held for the remainder of the contest.
Cael Schmitt was again the team's leading scorer, posting his third-staight 20-point effort with 24 points, three assists, three rebounds and two steals.
Bennett Sherry also stuffed the stat sheet, tying a career-high with 20 points while registering his second double-double with 11 boards. Sherry also turned in four blocks, two steals and two assists in 35 minutes of action.
TJ Schnurr was the final Kohawk to hit the double-digit mark, scoring 16 points with four boards and three assists.
COE 73 - AUGUSTANA 62
GAME FACTS
- Sherry and Schmitt sparked the great start for Coe, each hitting from distance and from inside the arc to give their team a 10-0 lead just three minutes in. Augie claimed the next three minutes with a quick 12-8 spurt, cutting the lead to six as the visitors hit 5-of-7 from the field during the run. Schmitt began another run for the Kohawks on the next possession, hitting a distance jumper which kickstarted a 10-5 for Coe, regaining a 28-17 lead midway through the half. The Vikings stayed close over the next four minutes, getting a 7-0 run as Coe struggled to find the mark, allowing the lead to be trimmed to just four. The Kohawks regained the momentum over the final five minutes of the half, edging the visitors 16-11 as Schmitt led the way with six points to give his team a 44-35 lead after one. Augustana opened the second half on top, scoring five of the opening 14 points to again cut Coe's lead to just two possessions. Schmitt, Schnurr and Coe's defense quickly put an end to the run, getting 12 of the next 16 points including eight from the shifty point guard. The defense picked up the intensity during the run and held Augie to just 1-of-9 shooting while forcing four turnovers. The Kohawks managed the remaining 10 minutes of the game, controlling the tempo and taking care of the ball en route to their third-straight victory.
Up next: Coe is back on the road for its next two matchups, traveling to Jacksonville, Illinois for the Illinois College tournament on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18. The Kohawks will face the host Blue Boys on Friday evening at 7:30 PM before facing either North Park or Wabash on Saturday.
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