MANKATO, Minn. -- Jordan Spencer scored 29 points Saturday night for the Augustana men's basketball team, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings dropped a 90-79 decision to Minnesota State at the Taylor Center.

With the loss, the Vikings drop to 6-3 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC. The Mavericks improve to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Augustana trailed 34-27 in the first half when a Matt Cartwright jumper sparked a 7-0 run for the Vikings. A Steven Schaefer three-pointer tied the contest up at 34 and a Jameson Bryan free throw gave Augustana the lead. Bryan, a freshman from Apple Valley, Minn., gave Augustana a 41-37 lead on a three-pointer late in the first half, but the Mavericks battled back to tie the game up at 43 at halftime.

It was a back-and-forth battle in the second half until Minnesota State went on a run late to break away from the Viking's grasp. With the Mavericks clinging to a 63-60 lead, Chris Kendrix nailed a three-pointer to give MSU a 68-60 lead and they never looked back. The Vikings trailed 83-77 with 1:14 to go in the game but just couldn't get over the hump.
Three Augustana players scored in double-figures on the night. Spencer led the way with 29, while Schaefer had 12 and Adam Dykman contributed with 10 points. Marcus Asmus had a team-high seven rebounds while Spencer connected on three shots from long range.

As a team, the Vikings shot 50 percent from the field compared to Minnesota State's 54 percent. The Mavericks drilled 11 three's at a 47 percent clip and forced 17 Augustana turnovers.  
MSU also had three players that scored double digit points. Kevin Krieger scored 29 points, Cameron Kirksey had 17 while Charlie Brown had 14 for the Mavericks.

Augustana returns to action Friday, Dec. 8 when the Vikings host Minot State at 8 p.m. in the Sioux Falls Arena.