SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 1 Augustana University men's basketball (0-1) opens its 12-game home schedule this Thursday, Nov. 19, taking on No. 14 Northwest Missouri State University (1-1) at 7 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Arena. This will mark the second straight season Augustana and Northwest Missouri State will square-off.
 
The two teams last met in the NCAA Central Region semifinals at the Sanford Pentagon on March 13 of last season. The Bearcats ended Augustana's season with a 66-65 victory over the Vikings in front of 3,000-plus fans.
 
Thursday night's game will be the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. Northwest Missouri State has won three of the previous five meetings. Before playing in the regional tournament last season, Augustana and Northwest Missouri State had not played since Dec. 6, 1987, a 95-77 win for the Vikings in Sioux Falls.
 
Augustana opened the 2015-16 season on Friday, Nov. 13, taking on Washburn University in Las Vegas, Nev. The Vikings led for most of the night against the Ichabods until Washburn was able to grab a lead with 2:44 remaining in the game. The Ichabods held the Vikings to just three points over the final 2-plus minutes of play and hung on for the 88-86 win.
 
All five of Augustana's starters finished in double-digits in the season-opener against Washburn. Alex Richter led the Vikings with 22 points on 7 of 10 shooting, knocking down a career-high six 3-pointers. Casey Schilling added 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block while shooting 4 of 8 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line. Daniel Jansen pitched in with 17 points and four rebounds while Adam Beyer and Jordan Spencer both scored 11 points and dished out five assists.
 
The 2015-16 season will mark Augustana's second straight playing all of its home games at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Vikings finished 13-0 at the Arena last season and will be playing its first game there since defeating Bemidji State in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament on Feb. 25 of last season.
 
Augustana will have a short turnaround for its next game as the Vikings are set to open NSIC play at Wayne State on Monday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. in Wayne, Neb.