SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Fresh off a pair of NSIC road wins last weekend, the Augustana men's basketball team returns to Sioux Falls to host a weekend series at the Sioux Falls Arena. The Vikings will square up with Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m., and wrap up the weekend vs. Bemidji State on Sunday with a 2:30 tip-off.

Fans who bring two non-perishable items to donate on either day will receive a discounted $5 general admission ticket. All donations will benefit Feeding South Dakota. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can click here, and anyone not in attendance can watch live video of both games by visiting GoAugie.com/live.

Augustana rolls into the weekend series averaging 89.5 points per game over their last two outings and will look to keep up the pace vs. Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State, who both allow above 43% shooting and more than 70 points per game. The Vikings recent success stems from solid defense and an ability to score in transition. In a pair of wins last weekend, Augustana outscored the opposition 16-4 in fast break points and dropped 72 points in the paint.

The Vikings (5-3, 2-1 NSIC) are also getting it done on the glass, collecting 38.4 rebounds per game. Augustana is hauling in 11.4 offensive boards per game, which is second in the NSIC and has led to an average of 11 second-chance points per night. The Augustana defense has also stepped up as of late, forcing 20 turnovers in the last two games and holding Winona State and Upper Iowa to 25-72 from downtown.

Through eight games the Vikings have had a different leading scorer four times, and currently, have six guys averaging more than 8 points per game. Tyler Riemersma (15.6 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game) is nearly averaging a double-double and also has a team-high 9 steals on the season. 

A pair of freshmen, Michael Schaefer and A.J. Plitzuweit, are both putting up more than 12 points per game and have contributed in other ways as well. Schaefer is second on the team in boards (6.1/game) and Plitzuweit leads the team with nearly four assists per night. The Vikings are making nearly 40% of their shots from downtown and are led by Matt Cartwright with 17 triples on the season.

Trevor Hanson is coming off a career-high 23-point performance and is shooting 52% from the field this season. Dylan LeBrun, who has started all eight games, is averaging 8.6 points per game in his freshman campaign. The Vikings bench has also stepped up as of late, averaging more than 24 points per game over the last two outings.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston:
The story on the season for Minnesota Crookston starts with the play of junior Harrison Cleary. The reigning NSIC Player of the Week had a career game vs. MSU Moorhead, dropping a school-record 47 points in the win. The last two games he has averaged 36 points and knocked down 17-23 from downtown and 20-20 from the charity stripe.

Overall, Minnesota Crookston is 7-4 (1-2 NSIC) with their lone conference win coming vs. MSU Moorhead last week. The Golden Eagles come into Friday's game averaging 83.3 points per game (6th/NSIC) and allow 70.9 per game (9th/NSIC). The Vikings hope to take advantage of the glass where Minnesota Crookston is last in the league with just 25.2 defensive boards per night.

Series History vs. the Golden Eagles:
Playing at least once every season over the past 15 years, Augustana owns a program mark of 16-2 vs. Minnesota Crookston. However, last season, the Golden Eagles snapped a 15-game series winning streak with an 80-70 defeat over Augustana. Clearly led the Eagles with 20 points, and Marcus Asmus led the Vikings with 14 points while also adding a career-high 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Over the last four games, the Vikings are averaging 85 points per game vs. Minnesota Crookston. When playing in Sioux Falls, the Vikings are 10-0 at home vs. the Golden Eagles.

Scouting Bemidji State:
With five players averaging double-figures on the season, Bemidji State (4-3, 1-2 NSIC) stands 2nd in the Northern Sun averaging more than 89 points per game. However, the Beavers allow 80.0 points per game and their 3-point FG defense is second-worst in the NSIC, allowing 39% from downtown. The Beavers do lead the NSIC in defensive boards, allowing just 30.5 per game.

The Beavers, who picked up three non-conference wins earlier this season have only one Northern Sun win this season (Minnesota Crookston). Sophomore Derek Thompson leads the program with 18.3 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Series History vs. the Beavers:
The Vikings head into Sunday matchup vs. Bemidji State with a 15-6 all-time record vs. the Beavers. Playing twice a year for the last four seasons, the Vikings have won the last seven matchups. While playing at home in Sioux Falls, Augustana is 8-2 overall.

Squaring up last season in Bemidji, Minn. the Vikings started quick and rolled to a 92-66 win. John Warren poured in a career-high 32 points, connected on a career-high eight 3-pointers and corralled a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the Vikings.

The Fast Break:

• Over the past four seasons, Augustana is 47-8 (.855) when playing conference games at home. That record includes a pair of perfect (11-0) conference home seasons.
• Between the North Central Conference (NCC) and the NSIC, the Vikings are 573-667 (.471) all-time in conference play.
• All-time, Augustana has a 16-2 record against Minnesota Crookston.
• In 21 all-time matchups, the Vikings are 15-6 vs. the Beavers of Bemidji State. Augie has won the last 7 matchups.
• With a record of 292-169 in 16 seasons at Augustana, Tom Billeter is now just 8 wins from 300 as a Viking.
• Billeter led Augustana to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including five trips in the last seven seasons.
• Augustana is hauling in 11.4 offensive board per game, which is 2nd in the NSIC and has led to an average of 11 second-chance points per night.
• The Vikings are averaging nearly 30 points in the paint per game.
• The Augustana defense forced 20 turnovers in the last two games and held Winona State and Upper Iowa to 25-72 from downtown.
• In a pair of wins last weekend, the Vikings averaged 89.5 points per game.
• Tyler Riemersma (15.6 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game) is nearly averaging a double-double and also has a team-high 9 steals on the season. His 8.8 boards per game are 6th in the NSIC
• Trevor Hanson is coming off a career-high 23-point performance vs. Upper Iowa and is shooting 52% from the field this season.
• The Vikings are making nearly 40% of their shots from downtown and are led by Matt Cartwright with 17 triples on the season.
• A pair of freshmen, Michael Schaefer and A.J. Plitzuweit, are both putting up more than 12 points per games
• Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 434 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.
• At least one Viking scored in double figures in each of the last 258 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.
• On this year's roster, the Vikings have five true freshmen, two transfers, and 10 of 16 student-athletes have never played together.
• With 10 players from last years roster no longer on the team, the Vikings lost 1,768 of last years 2,459 points. That's 71.8% of the scoring from 2017-2018.
• In the 2018-2019 NSIC preseason poll, the Vikings received 127 points and were picked to finished seventh overall.
• The Vikings finished 16-14 last year, locking in their 12th straight winning season.
• Augustana men's basketball has played 2,174 games in school history, and the program all-time record is 1,081-1,096 (.496).