SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Following a 3-3 (0-1 NSIC) start to the season, the Augustana men's basketball team will now hit the road for their first true road games of the season. The Vikings, who have played four neutral site games thus far, will first square up with Winona State on Friday at 7:30 p.m. before heading south to take on Upper Iowa on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Fans can follow stats and watch live video of both games by visiting GoAugie.com/live.

Augustana head coach Tom Billeter is looking forward to the challenge of playing their first NSIC road games of the season. "We are excited to begin the travel portion of our Conference season," Billeter said. "Having played only one true home game this non-conference portion of the season, our team has had an opportunity to play in several different venues.  Winona always plays a very physical brand of basketball as does Upper Iowa and both these teams make for a very challenging weekend ahead."

Through six games, one of the storylines for Augustana men's basketball is the program's youth movement with 13 of the 16 student-athletes being underclassmen, including five true freshmen and a pair of transfers. Although the freshmen and new faces have shown their youth at times, they've also illustrated how good they soon will be. The Vikings have six players averaging at least 7 points and 3 rebounds per games, and four of those are freshmen - Michael Schaefer (12.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG), A.J. Plitzuweit (12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG), Dylan LeBrun (8.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG) and Trevor Hanson (7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG). In addition, the Vikings leading scorer and rebounder, Tyler Riemersma, is just a sophomore. A transfer from DI Navy, the Minnesota native is putting up more than 15 points and 8 rebounds per game standing top-16 in the conference in both categories. Augustana's top returner is Matt Cartwright who is leading the program with 13 three's while averaging more than 10 points per game.  

As a team, the Vikings are averaging 70.2 points per game through six games. The Vikings have done a decent amount of damage in the paint, putting up 23.3 points in the paint per night, including a season-high 38 vs. Henderson State (Ark.). And when the Vikings aren't scoring inside, they're getting to the line. Augustana has shot the 5th most free throws in the league and are knocking down 73% of their attempts from the charity stripe. From distance, the Vikings have shot just 123 threes (20.5 per game), but they're making 37.4% from downtown which is top-10 in the league.

With another 40+ rebounding performance last weekend, the Vikings stand 6th in the NSIC in total rebounds at 38.5 per game. One of the Vikings biggest strengths has been on the offensive glass where they're pulling down 12 boards per game, good for second in the Northern Sun. This weekend, look for the Vikings to execute the extra pass and share the rock. In the Vikings three wins, Augustana has averaged more than 9 assists per game. Augustana's 1.19 assist to turnover ratio currently stands 12th in the Northern Sun. Another key will be a fast start - in the Vikings wins they've scored more than 37 points on average in the 1st half.

Series History vs. Winona State:
Although the Vikings and Warriors first met on the hardwood more than 80 years ago, they've only played 38 times since that matchup in 1937. All-time, Augustana has a 16-12 record against the Warriors, but the Vikings are just 5-7 when playing in Winona.

Augustana has won 6 of the last 7, including last year's comeback 86-84 win in Winona, Minn. The Vikings were down eight late in the 1st half but outscored Winona by 10 points in the second half to post an 86-84 comeback win. John Warren and Steven Schaefer led five Vikings in double figures with 16 points each, with Warren adding eight rebounds.

Scouting the Warriors:
After starting out the year with a pair of losses at the Hillyard Tip-off classic, the Warriors have found their rhythm as of late. Winona State has won four straight, including an NSIC-opening win over Upper Iowa, 72-50, on Saturday. The win marked the first time WSU has limited an NSIC opponent to 50 points or fewer since December 11, 2015, at Concordia-St. Paul.

The Warriors are led by a stout defense allowing just 41% from the field and 62 points per game, which is second in the Northern Sun. Winona State is 10th in the league in both 3-point offense and defense, but is one of the league's best from the charity stripe.  Although the Warriors stand last in the NSIC in blocks per game, they make up for it with a tremendous balance on the floor. Seven players averaging 8 points per game or more led by Kevion Taylor who leads the team with 10.5 points and 6.3 board per game.

Series History vs. Upper Iowa:
In 24 all-time matchups, the Vikings have claimed 17 victories and stand 17-7 overall vs. Upper Iowa. More recently, the two sides are equally matched and have split the last four matchups 2-2 including a pair of last seconds wins both in Fayette and Sioux Falls. Although Augustana is 9-2 when taking on Upper Iowa at home, the Vikings are just 6-5 when playing on the road.

These two teams last squared up in the final regular season game on 2017-18. Augustana trailed for most of the game, and although they got within two points late, Upper Iowa fired back with a 9-0 run for an 87-77 loss. Spencer led the team with 20 points in the loss.

Scouting the Peacocks:
Heading into NSIC play, Upper Iowa had won a season-best three straight games. However, Saturday's NSIC-opening 22-point loss to Winona State dropped the peacocks to 3-3 (0-1 NSIC) on the year. Saturday will mark Upper Iowa's first conference home game of the season.

Reigning NSIC freshman of the year, Joe Smoldt, leads the program with 16 points and 4 rebounds per game. As a team, Upper Iowa puts up more than 75 points per game but allows 80.0 points per game, which is 15th in the NSIC. With opponents hitting 43% from the field and nearly 10 made three's per game, Saturday's game will be a great opportunity for the Vikings to re-find their rhythm. Upper Iowa has also struggled to protect the glass this season, securing a league-worst 32.3 per game. Munachiso Okonkwo leads the team with 5.6 rebounds per game.

The Fast Break:

• Over the last four years, Augustana is 33-11 (.750) in NSIC road games.
• Between the North Central Conference (NCC) and the NSIC, the Vikings are 571-667 (.471) all-time in conference play.
• All-time, Augustana has a 16-12 record against the Warriors, but are just 5-7 when playing on the road in Winona.
• In 24 all-time matchups, the Vikings stand 17-7 overall vs. Upper Iowa.
• With a record of 290-169 in 16 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.
• Through six games, Augustana is averaging 70.2 points per game.
• The Vikings are putting up 23.3 points in the paint per night, including a season-high 38 vs. Henderson State (Ark.).
• With another 40+ rebounding performance last weekend, the Vikings stand 6th in the NSIC in total rebounds at 38.5 per game.
• The Vikings are second in the NSIC in offensive rebounds, pulling down 12.0 offensive boards per game.
• Tyler Riemersma leads the team with 15.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, which both stand top-16 in the conference.
• Earlier this season vs. SD Mines, sophomore Matt Cartwright dropped a career-high 24 points.
• The Vikings have six players averaging at least 7 points and 3 rebounds per games, and four of those are freshmen - Michael Schaefer (12.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG), A.J. Plitzuweit (12.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG), Dylan LeBrun (8.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG) and Trevor Hanson (7.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG).
• On this year's roster, the Vikings have five true freshmen, two transfers, and 10 of 16 student-athletes have never played together.
• Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 432 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.
• In 2018 the Vikings have shot just 123 threes (20.5 per game), but they're making 37.4% from downtown which is top-10 in the league.
• At least one Viking scored in double figures in each of the last 256 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.
• 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 2,172 games in school history, and the program all-time record is 1,079-1,096 (.496).