SIOUX FALLS – Augustana senior Jordan Spencer poured in a game-high 33 points and the Vikings got 20 more from fellow senior Marcus Asmus, but Graceland erupted from 3-point range, finishing 18 of 30 from beyond the arc to secure a 93-81 win on Thursday night at the Elmen Center.
 
The loss drops the Vikings to 3-1, while Graceland returns home with a 5-4 mark.
 
Augustana won the top and got a Steven Schaefer layup just nine seconds into the contest, but the Yellowjackets quickly answered to tied the game, and then hit their first 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game to take their first lead at 5-2.
 
Two ties and a pair of lead changes would follow, but the Yellowjackets went up for good less than five minutes into the game on their second of 11 first half triples.
 
After leading 48-43 at the half, Graceland scored the first six points of the second half to extend its lead to 54-43, a lead that grew to as many as 10 points on three occasions, only to see the Vikings fire back with a 6-0 spurt to cut it to 79-77 with 3:43 left.
 
The Yellowjackets answered with a 3-pointer though, and pushed the lead back into double figures.
 
Along with his 33 points, Spencer dished out seven assists, while Asmus added eight rebounds to his 20 points. The Vikings also got 10 points and seven rebounds from Adam Dykman.
 
LT Davis led four Yellowjackets in double figures with 27 points, while Justin Harley, Jared Mayes and Dordan Dembley all finished with 14 points.
 
The Vikings look to shake off the loss on Monday, when they open NSIC play at Wayne State at 8 p.m., a game preceded by the Vikings and Wildcat women at 6 p.m.
 
NOTES: Thursday's game marked the 2,145th game in program history, but the first meeting with Graceland … the Vikings trailed at the half for the first time this season … an Augustana player did not record a double-double for the first time this season … the Vikings made at least 10 3-pointers in all four games this season ... Spencer scored at least 30 points in a game for the first time this season and for the third time in his career … Asmus becomes the first Viking to score at least 20 points in a game twice this season