SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Playing back on their home court for the first time since mid-December, the Augustana men's basketball team is set for another pair of Northern Sun Conference matchups this weekend. The Vikings welcome in Upper Iowa on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and finish the weekend on Saturday with Winona State at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be played at the Sioux Falls Arena, and fans not in attendance at this weekend's action can follow live video and stats and GoAugie.com/Live.

Augustana (10-4, 6-2 NSIC South) comes into Friday night standing in third in the NSIC South and fourth in the conference overall. Upper Iowa (6-8, 3-5) and Winona State (5-9, 2-6) are both coming off a pair of losses last weekend. Earlier this season, Augustana picked up wins over Upper Iowa (91-76) and Winona State (88-80).

The Vikings look forward to playing back at home where Augustana is 56-11 (.841) over the last four seasons, including back-to-back 16-0 home records in 2015 and 2016.

Although the Vikings came up short on the road Saturday night, Augustana is continuing to turn heads around the league and surpass outside expectations. The Vikings, who were picked to finish 7th in the NSIC, recently rattled off seven straight wins to vault them up the conference standings.

Through 14 games, Augustana has proven to be one of the leagues best rebounding teams. The Vikings, who are second in the NSIC with nearly 40 rebounds per game, are 10-1 when out-rebounding their opponent. The Vikings have also picked up 12 offensive boards per game, which has lead to double-digit second-chance points nearly every outing.

Defensively, the Vikings have locked down when needed. Opponents are shooting 43 percent vs. the Vikings, which slots them 8th in the Northern Sun. Augustana forces more than 11 turnovers per game, which put them in the top half of the conference.

The Vikings may be one of the younger teams in the league but have shown an ability for every one of their starters to step up when needed. During the Hastings game, Michael Schaefer (23 points, 11 rebounds), Dylan LeBrun (22 points, 12 boards), and Jameson Bryan (18 points, seven boards, six assists) all hit career-highs. On Friday, A.J. Plitzuweit poured in a career-high 25 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. Over the last month, sharpshooter Matt Cartwright is averaging 21 points per game. Overall Matt is averaging 15.8 points per night, 14th in the NSIC in scoring.

Overall, Augustana has five players averaging double-figures, led by Tyler Riemersma at 17.5 points per game. Through 14 games, the Vikings are hitting nearly 45 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown.

Scouting Upper Iowa (6-8, 3-5 NSIC South):
Nearly halfway through the season, Upper Iowa finds themselves 6th in the NSIC South and a pair of games below .500. The peacocks have lost three of their last four games, including a 99-95 overtime thriller vs. MSU Moorhead. Upper Iowa scores nearly 79 points per game but has struggled from the defensive end where they allow a league-worst 84.5 points per game.

13 games into the season, Upper Iowa has all five starters averaging double-digits points per night. Jareese Williams leads the Peacocks with 14.1 points per game. Chris Olson leads the program with 3.0 assists per game. Overall, UIU leads the NSIC with 11.2 made three-pointers game.

Series vs. the Peacocks:
Playing for the second time in just over a month, Augustana and Upper Iowa are familiar opponents. Last time these two squared up, Dec. 8, 2018, Augustana scored a then season-high 91 points in a 15-point road win. In the win, the Vikings had balance up and down the lineup with four players hitting double-figures. Trevor Hanson led the way with a career-high 23 points and Michael Schaefer added in 18 points with 6 rebounds. Tyler Riemersma (15 points, 8 rebounds) and Jameson Bryan (season-high 12 points and 6 assists) both made big contributions as well.

All-time, Augustana owns an 18-7 career mark vs. Upper Iowa. The two programs first played in 1961 but didn't match up regularly until 2005. Augustana owns a 9-2 mark when playing the Peacocks in Sioux Falls, and a 3-0 mark all-time at the Sioux Falls arena.

Scouting Winona State (5-9, 2-6 NSIC South):
Despite preseason program expectation, Winona State has started the year with just five wins in their first 14 games. Playing at home last weekend, the Warriors were swept by MSU Moorhead and Northern State. Winona State will head into this weekend matchups with just one win in their last eight games.

One of the bright spots for the Warriors has been their ability to protect the basketball. A pair of Warriors, Caleb Wagner (2.8) and Devin Whitelow (4.1) stand top-two in the NSIC in assist/turnover ratio. Winona State is averaging 73.2 points per game and allowing the opponent to score 70.3, which is sixth in the NSIC. Kevion Taylor is leading the program in scoring at 13.6 points.

Series vs. the Warriors:
Squaring up on Dec. 7, 2018, in Winona, Minn., the Vikings used a second-half comeback for their first true road win of the year. Trailing by six, Augustana closed the game on a 20-7 run to pick up the win. Cartwright had a game-high 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.

The Vikings and Warriors series history date back to 1937, but the two programs have played just 39 times over the last 80 years. The Vikings own an all-time advantage of 17-12, including a 9-3 mark in Sioux Falls. When playing at the arena, the Vikings are 3-1 vs. the Warriors.

The Fast Break:

• Augustana is 56-11 (.841) over the last four seasons at home, including back-to-back 16-0 home records in 2015 and 2016.
• Earlier this season, Augustana picked up a win over Upper Iowa (91-76). All-time, Augustana owns an 18-7 career mark vs. Upper Iowa.
• The Viking own an all-time advantage of 17-12 vs. Winona State, including a 9-3 mark in Sioux Falls. The Vikings and Warriors series history date back to 1937, but the two programs have played just 39 times over the last 80 years.
• With a record of 297-170 in 16 seasons at Augustana, Tom Billeter is now just three wins from 300 as a Viking.
• Billeter is standing at 394 career wins, needing six more to reach 400.
• Augustana is hauling in 12 offensive boards per game, which is 2nd in the NSIC and has led to an average of 11 second-chance points per night.
• Augustana's 39.2 total rebounds per game stand second in the conference.
• The Vikings are 10-1 when out-rebounding their opponent.
• Augustana is 7th in the NSIC in 3-point field goal percentage, knocking down nearly 40% from downtown.
• Overall, Augustana has five players averaging double-figures, led by Tyler Riemersma at 17.5 points per game.
• Through 14 games, the Vikings are hitting 40 percent of their shots from downtown.
• The Vikings are shooting 75% from the free throw line, which is 5th in the conference.
• Over the last month, sharpshooter Matt Cartwright is averaging 21 points per game. Overall, Cartwright is averaging 15.8 points per night, which is 14th in the NSIC in scoring.
• Augustana forces more than 11 turnovers per game, which puts them in the top half of the conference.
• Over the entire season, opponents are shooting 43 percent vs. the Vikings, which slots them 8th in the Northern Sun.
• Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 440 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 264 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 2,213 games in school history, and the program all-time record is 1,092-1,121 (.493).