SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The season continues for the Augustana men after a tough 88-72 win over Bemidji State on Wednesday night in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament at the Elmen Center, but it doesn't get any easier, as the Vikings advance to face the NSIC South's top-seeded Mustangs from Southwest Minnesota State.
 
The third meeting of the season between the two teams tips on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. on Heritage Court inside the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.
 
Augustana jumped out to a 12-0 lead on Bemidji State, and led 24-6 less than 10 minutes into the game, but the Beavers fired back with a 16-0 run later in the half to take a 37-35 lead, and only a Marcus Asmus tip-in at the first half buzzer kept the Vikings from trailing at half, as the teams went to the locker room tied at 39.
 
The second half saw six lead changes before the Vikings gained control midway through the half, and then they used a 9-0 run with about five minutes left to secure the win and advance to the tournament quarterfinals for a sixth straight season.
 
SMSU cruised to an 83-61 win over U-Mary early in February, but the Mustangs needed to grind-out their win on Wednesday, as the Mauraders led for the majority of the game, but could not fend off a late charge by the Mustangs, who battled back to survive and advance.
 
The winner of Saturday's quarterfinal match-up advances to play either St. Cloud State or Sioux Falls on Monday in the tournament semifinals at 2:30 p.m.
 
Vikings Quick Hits
• Saturday's game marks the 2,199th game in program history
• Augustana finished the season with a 151-65 all-time record in NSIC play
• The Vikings won their only other game this season played on a Wednesday (Nov. 22, vs. Doane – 111-72)
• Augustana beat Bemidji State three times in NSIC Tournament, both times in the first round (2015, 2017, 2018)
• The Vikings used the same five starters in all 29 games this season, and all five average at least 10 points per game
• Augustana led at some point in 28 of the 29 games this season, and led in the second half or overtime of 24 of the 29
• The Vikings advanced to at least the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament in each of the last five seasons
• Four Vikings combined for 18 double-doubles this season; Asmus (7), Spencer (5), Dykman and Warren (3)
• Jordan Spencer entered the week ranked second in the nation with 213 assists this season
• A start on Saturday would give Spencer a school-record 130 starts in his career
• Spencer earned all-NSIC first team honors for a second straight season
• John Warren earned a spot on the all-NSIC honorable mention team, his first-ever all-conference selection
• Marcus Asmus ranks second in the NSIC with 238 rebounds, and an 8.5 rebounds per game average