SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Fresh off a two-game Texas road trip to open the season, the Augustana men's basketball team now returns to Sioux Falls on Tuesday to open their 2018-2019 home slate. The Vikings will welcome Chadron State (Neb.) for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Elmen Center. Fans not in attendance for Tuesday's game can follow live video and stats at GoAugie.com/live.

Augustana head coach Tom Billeter is looking forward to the opportunity to take on a tough Chadron State program on Tuesday. "They have a lot of transfers and a good amount of size," Billeter said. "We're looking forward to opening our home schedule and the chance to improve on Tuesday evening."

The Vikings opened the season with a 1-1 finish at the Northern Sun Conference/Great America Conference challenge, including a season-opening 75-67 win over Southern Arkansas. In the win over the Muleriders, the Vikings built a 15-point 1st half lead, thanks in part to great defense. In the first 20 minutes, the Vikings limited Southern Arkansas to just 4-25 (16%) from the field, including 1-9 from three and just 20 points.  

In Friday's win, the Vikings had three players in double-figures, including freshman Michael Schaefer who led the team with a game-high 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Saturday's game vs. Henderson State (Ark.) proved to be a different story. Although the Vikings tallied 24 assists and got a game-high and career-high 28 points from Tyler Riemersma, the Reddies shot 65% in the second half en route to an 83-77 win.

Through two games this year, Augustana is shooting 43% and averaging 76 points per game.  They have a +5.5 rebounding margin and have averaged more than 18 assists per game.
From downtown, the Vikings are shooting 41%, and are led by Matt Cartwright who has knocked down 6-11 from downtown. Overall, Riemersma leads the team with 21 points and 7 rebounds per game.

The Vikings, who have one of their youngest teams in a decade, have started three true freshmen this season. All of their top-six scorers are an underclassmen.

Scouting Chadron State:

In the Rocky Mountain Preseason Coaches Poll, Chadron State earned 49 points and was picked to finish 15th out of 16 teams. Now two games into the season, Chadron State is 1-1 on the year. The Eagles feature 11 transfers on their roster, and three DI transfers in Charles Gavin (Western Illinois), Diontae Champion (University of New Orleans), and Brady Delimont (South Dakota).

Although the Eagles opened the season with a 61-54 win over Texas A&M International on Friday, they ended the weekend with a 71-59 loss to Texas A&M - Kingsville. Through two games, Michael Sparks leads the team with 13 points per game and Jaisean Jackson leads the team with 4.5 assists.  

Off the bench, Charles Gavin is second on the team with 12 points per game and a team-high seven rebounds. Early on this year, Chadron has shot 42% from the field (40-95), and 31% (10-32 from) behind the arc.

Augustana and Chadron have matched up four times in the past two decades with the Vikings holding a 3-1 series advantage. The two teams squared up last season with Augustana rolling to a 73-53 win in Chadron, Nebraska. In the win, the Vikings Steven Schaefer led all players with 16 points.

Tuesday's game will be the 3rd in four days for both programs.

The Fastbreak:

• The Vikings are 52-10 (.840) over the last four seasons at home, including back-to-back 16-0 home records in 2015 and 2016.
• Augustana and Chadron have matched up four times in the past two decades with the Vikings holding a 3-1 series advantage.
• The Vikings and Eagles haven't played in Sioux Falls since Nov. 20th, 2007.
• Through two games this year Augustana is shooting 43% and averaging 76 points per game.  
• The Vikings have a +5.5 rebounding margin and have averaged more than 18 assists per game.
• From downtown, the Vikings are shooting 41% and are led by Matt Cartwright who has knocked down 6-11.
• Tyler Riemersma leads the team with 21 points and 7 rebounds per game.
• Over the last four years, Augustana men's basketball has won nearly 80% of their games, going 106-29.
• With a record of 288-167 in 15 seasons at Augustana, Tom Billeter is Augustana's all-time winningest men's basketball coach.
• Billeter led Augustana to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including five trips in the last seven seasons.
• On this year's roster, the Vikings have five true freshmen, two transfers, and 10 of 16 student-athletes have never played together.
• All three of the freshmen from South Dakota on the roster - Dylan LeBrun, A.J. Plitzuweit and Trevor Hanson - were members of the 2017 class 'A' All-State first team.
• Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 428 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.
• The Vikings finished 16-14 last year, locking in their 12th straight winning season.
• In the 2018-2019 NSIC preseason poll, the Vikings received 127 points and were picked to finished seventh overall.
• The Vikings have now won four of their last five season openers. The last loss came in the opening game of the 2015-2016 season when the Vikings went on to finish 34-2 and win the DII National Championship.
• Augustana men's basketball has played 2,171 games in school history, and the program all-time record is 1,077-1,094 (.496).
• For the first time in program history, Augustana will compete in the East-West Challenge on Nov. 16-17th at the Sanford Pentagon, squaring up with South Dakota School of Mines (Fri.) and Black Hills State (Sat.).