MARSHALL, Minn. – Jordan Spencer scored a career-high 39 points to lead Augustana University men's basketball to a 97-79 win over Southwest Minnesota State University at the R/A Facility on Saturday night. With the win, Augustana improves to 19-7, including 14-6 in NSIC play. SMSU is now 20-4 overall, 15-4 in conference play.
 
Spencer was 14 of 21 from the field and knocked down 5 of 9 3-pointers while also hitting 6 of 6 from the free throw line. Adam Beyer added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings while Steven Schaefer and Mike Busack each pitched in with 13.
 
John Warren added seven points and six assists and the Vikings knocked 16 3-pointers which ties the most by any team at the R/A Facility on SMSU's' campus. Augustana shot 54.8 percent (34 of 62) from the field, including 16 of 27 from behind the arc.
 
SMSU shot 28 free throws and hit 25 while shooting 45.1 percent (25 of 51) from the field. Joey Bartlett led the Mustangs with 16 points on 4 of 12 shooting. KJ Davis added 15 points and four rebounds for SMSU.
 
Augustana started out the game hot from 3-point range making 4 of its first 8 field goals from behind the arc. The Vikings took a 7-0 lead after two straight 3-pointers and a 4-point-play conversion by Spencer. Beyer gave the Vikings a 10-3 advantage before SMSU scored five straight to make it a two-point game at 10-8.
 
SMSU tied the game at 13 with 14:54 remaining in the first half but the Vikings continued to stay hot from 3-point range as Busack knocked down a triple from the top of the key twice in the next three minutes to put the Vikings in front 21-17 with 11:59 to play in the half.
 
SMSU used a 9-3 run just past the midway point of the half to take a 31-26 lead as the Vikings went 1 for 3 from the field during the stretch. John warren got in on the scoring mix from 3-point range helping the Vikings tie the game at 31 with his first 3-pointer of the night.
 
The Vikings continued to put on the pressure scoring 15 of the game's next 18 points to take a 41-34 lead with 2:39 remaining in the half. SMSU used the free throw line to chip away at Augustana's lead over the next scoring eight of its next 11 points from the stripe.
 
Spencer scored four points in the final 40 seconds of the half to finish with 18 points in the first frame and help the Vikings take a 49-45 lead at the half.
 
Augustana finished the first half shooting 50 percent (16 of 32) from the field. The Vikings knocked down 11 3-pointers in the half, getting three each from Busack, Beyer and Spencer.
 
SMSU got 21 points from its bench in the first half, including 10 points from Taylor Schafer. The Mustangs shot 58.3 percent (14 of 24) from the field and were 11 of 12 from the free throw line.
 
Augustana started out the second half strong going on a 15-4 run over the first 5:11 to build a 13-point lead of 64-49. Spencer scored 10 of the 15 points for the Vikings, including hitting three straight free throws after getting fouled shooting a 3-pointer.
 
The Mustangs didn't go away quietly, as SMSU answered Augustana's second-half run with a 15-3 run over the next 3:55 to cut Augustana's lead down to three at 67-64. The Mustangs made their run when Spencer went to the bench for a breather and he returned to the game and hit his fifth 3-pointer of the night to push Augustana's lead back up to six at 70-64 just past the midway point of the second half.
 
Steven Schaefer heated up for the Vikings in the second half scoring eight points during a 4:25 stretch with his second 3-pointer of the night giving Augustana an 86-75 lead with 4:44 remaining in the game.
 
The Vikings continued to pull away from the Mustangs as Jordan Spencer scored two straight baskets to give himself 39 points on the night and Schaefer knocked down a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to stretch Augustana's lead to 18.
 
The win puts Augustana one out of the lead in the South Division heading into the final weekend of play. The Vikings are 14-6 in NSIC play behind SMSU and Upper Iowa at 15-5.
 
Augustana will close-out the regular season at home next weekend hosting Winona State and Upper Iowa. The Vikings host Winona State on Friday at 8 p.m. and Upper Iowa on Saturday at 6 p.m.