SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The non-conference schedule in the books, the Augustana men's basketball team returns to Northern Sun play this weekend, with games at Concordia-St. Paul and at Minnesota State. The Vikings and Golden Bears tip off the weekend on Friday at 8 p.m., while the contest against the Mavericks gets going on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
Augustana opened conference play with an 80-75 loss at Wayne State on Nov. 20, but bounced back with a pair of convincing wins to close out non-conference play over the long Thanksgiving weekend; downing Doane at home on Nov. 22 and winning at Chadron State three days later.
 
Up 49-39 at halftime against Doane behind 20 points from Steven Schaefer, the Vikings came out hot in the second half, scoring 62 points in the final frame to secure a 111-72 win over the Tigers. Schaefer finished with a career-high 30 points to lead all players, including four other Vikings in double figures.
 
Three days after taming the Tigers, the Vikings traveled to Chadron State, and picked up where they left off, opening on a 17-0 run, en route to a 73-53 win over the Eagles, who scored just 16 first half points. Schaefer set the pace again, leading a trio of Vikings in double figures with 16 points.
 
Following this weekend, the Vikings return to the Sioux Falls Arena for their first conference home games of the season, starting with Minot State on Friday, followed by U-Mary on Saturday.
 
 
Vikings Quick Hits
• This week's games mark the 2,149th and 2,150th games in program history
• The Vikings own an all-time record of 566-655 in conference play
• Augustana played each its first six games of the season on different days of the week (Monday-Saturday)
• The Vikings don't play their first and only scheduled game on a Sunday until Dec. 31, at USF
• The same five Vikings started all seven games this season
• All five Augie starters average at least 10 points per game
• At least three Vikings scored in double figures in every game this season
• The Vikings won all five games this season when they led at the half, and lost both when they trailed at half
• Augie's last two 30 point victories came against Doane (81-45 on Dec. 19, 2016 –– 111-72 on Nov. 22, 2017)
• Augustana made 43 field goals vs. Doane, the most since making 44 vs. Minnesota Crookston on Nov. 16, 2007
• The Vikings combined for just 17 turnovers in two games last week (8, vs. Doane –– 9 at Chadron State)
• Marcus Asmus scored at least 10 points in every game during his career where he grabbed at least 10 rebounds
• Jordan Spencer did not score in double figures for two straight games for the first time since March 24 and 26, 2016
• Matt Cartwright finished with an even number of points in all six games he scored in (6,6,4,4,12,8)
 
 
Noteworthy
CLIMBING THE LADDER: Senior Jordan Spencer entered the season ranked 20th in all-time scoring at Augustana with 1,221 career points. His 120 points this season boost his total to 1,341, which ranks 15th all-time, 41 points shy of passing Rich Chapman (1,381 points from 1973-77) for 14th all-time.
 
DISH IT OUT: Along with being a prolific scorer for the Vikings, Jordan Spencer entered his senior season with a school-record 688 assists, and a 6.8 assists per game average. The dynamic distributor added 58 assists so far this season, pushing his record total to 746.
 
STOP, THEIF!: He scores, he assists and he steals. Jordan Spencer came into the season tied for 17th all-time at Augustana with 122 steals, but his six steals this season give him 128, good for 15th all-time, and three shy of passing Brett Szabo (1987-91) and Damien Fair (1994-98) for 13th all-time
 
3-POINTER STREAK: Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 403 games. The last time the Vikings did not make a 3-pointer came on Jan. 24, 2004, a 79-69 loss against North Dakota in the Elmen Center.
 
FINISH WHAT YOU START: Already a starter in 100 games in his career coming into the season, Spencer needs to start 30 games this season to set the school-record for career starts, a record held by Daniel Jansen (129 starts from 2012-16). He enters the week seven starts this season, for a total of 107 in his career.
 
VIKINGS IN DOUBLE FIGURES: At least one Viking score in double figures in each of the last 229 games. The last time an Augie player did not score at least 10 points in a game came on March 3, 2010, in a 75-52 loss to Wayne State at the Elmen Center in the NSIC Quarterfinals, when Lee Stephens led the Vikings with 8 points.
 
WHERE DID THE POINTS GO? Over the last two seasons, Augustana graduated a total of 9,150 career points from a total of eight student-athletes, which includes five 1,000-point scorers, two of which scored at least 2,000 career points.