LANCASTER, Texas — Henderson State shot 52.4 percent from the field on Saturday and got 27 points from Chris Parker to get past Augustana 83-77 and secure a 2-0 start to the 2018-19 season.

Parker was the catalyst for the Reddies and finished 9-for-14 from the field, which included a scorching 6-of-9 from beyond the arc on the day. Rel Johnson also chipped in 15 points, while Raekwon Rogers had 12 and Anthony Lupardus added 10.

The first half was a slugfest, as neither team built a lead of more than four points and the advantage on the scoreboard changed hands nine times. 

After taking a 35-34 lead into the break, the Reddies opened up the biggest lead of the game by either squad in the first five minutes of the second period, as three-straight 3-pointers from Parker, an And-1 from Mike Fofana, and a 3-pointer from Johnson jump-started an 18-10 Henderson run to put HSU in front 53-44.

Augustana, the 2016 DII National Champions, responded with a 17-7 run of their own to regain a 61-60 advantage with just over 10 minutes to play.

The final stretch was a battle as neither team could break away from the other. With 2:11 to go and the score tied at 75-75, Henderson finally broke through, as layups from Parker and Rogers put the Reddies in front 79-75 with 1:14 remaining in regulation.

The Vikings got a layup seconds later to trim the lead down to two points, but it proved to be their last bucket of the afternoon, as the Reddies held them scoreless in the final minute and used lay-ins from Fofana and Johnson late to hold on for the 83-77 win.

The Reddies out-rebounded their opponent for the second-straight outing, as they won the board battle with Augustana 36-33. Henderson shot 55 percent from beyond the 3-point line and hit 11 3-pointers in the win.

Henderson will look to start the season 3-0 on Tuesday when it plays its first home game of the year at 7 p.m. against Ecclesia in the Duke Wells Center.