SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Co-champions of the NSIC South Division and owners of a five-game streak, the Augustana men's basketball team now embarks on their postseason journey. The Vikings will open up the NSIC/Sanford Health men's basketball tournament on Wednesday night vs. Minnesota Crookston. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Sioux Falls Area and fans not in attendance can follow along at GoAugie.com/Live.

Tickets for the NSIC first-round games can be purchased online at GoAugie.com/tickets, or in person at the Premier Center box office from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or on gameday at Sioux Falls Arena starting at 4 p.m. Current Augustana students can receive a free ticket by swiping their valid ID at the game in the front lobby.

If the Vikings advance out of the first round, all remaining postseason games will be played at the Sanford Pentagon. Over the last four season, Augustana is 11-2 in the NSIC tournament, including a pair of conference tournament titles in 2015 & 2016. 

Augustana, who was picked to finish 7th overall and 5th in the NSIC South, split the south division title with Minnesota State and Wayne State. The Vikings late-season surge gives Augustana their third division title in five years. 

During the Vikings recent win streak, a number of players have stepped up, starting with A.J. Plitzuweit. The freshman is averaging 18 points, 4.2 assists, and 3 rebounds per game. The Vermillion native is now second on the team in scoring at 14.6 ppg. Plitzuweit has also proven to be on the best free throw shooter in the nation, shooting 88.9 percent from the line which slots him 27th in the nation. 

Matt Cartwright, who buried back-to-back threes to seal the Vikings win over SMSU, remains 4th in the NSIC in three-point shooting, knocking down 42.8 percent from behind the arc. The sophomore leads the team and is 14th in the NSIC at 16.0 ppg. Dylan LeBrun, who is the only other Viking to play and start in all 28 games this season, has helped the program defensively and also been a consistent contributor on offense. 

Tyler Riemersma, who missed part of the season, has returned to the court and made an impact off the bench. He chipped in 8 points and collected 12 boards in the Viking's last outing. 

As a team, the Vikings end the regular season as one of the nation's best from the free throw line. At 78.2 percent, Augustana is 18th in the nation from the line and scores more than 13 points per game in free throws. 

Augustana has also worked hard to control the glass, standing 16-3 when they out-rebound their opponent. The Vikings are third in total rebounds (38.1) and second in offensive rebounds (11.3) per game. Augustana has a +4.5 rebounding margin, which is 48th in the nation.  The Vikings are also forcing 10 turnovers per game, which is 10th in the nation for DII.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston:
Even though the Golden Eagles lost a pair of games last weekend, they still ended the regular season with a 16-15 (9-13 NSIC North) record. The .516 win percentage marks the first time in more than a decade that Minnesota Crookston has ended the regular season with a winning record. UMC has never won a postseason NSIC tournament game. 

The Golden Eagles success starts with junior Harrison Cleary, who has proved to be one of the best scorers all-time in the NSIC. In just three years, the Wisconsin native has scored more than 2,000 points and currently stands 5th in the league at 22.1 points per game. Clearly is also second in the nation from the free throw line, knocking down above 94 percent from the line. Overall, UMC scores 77.3 points per game, standing 11th in the NSIC.  

Series vs. the Golden Eagles:
Squaring up early this season in Sioux Falls, Augustana trailed by two points at halftime but scored 56 second-half points in a 91-76 win. Matt Cartwright went off in the final 20 minutes and finished with a career-high 37 points. Tyler Riemersma also had one of the best games of his college career, finishing with 22 points and 18 boards.

Overall, Augustana is 17-1 all-time vs. Minnesota Crookston. The Vikings have won 15 straight in the series and stand a 10-0 when playing in Sioux Falls. 

The Fastbreak:

• Over the last four years, Augustana is 54-10 when playing in Sioux Falls.
• In the last four seasons, the Vikings are is 11-2 in the NSIC tournament, including a pair of conference tournament titles in 2015 & 2016. 
• Augustana is 17-1 all-time vs. Minnesota Crookston. The Vikings have won 15 straight in the series and stand a 10-0 when playing in Sioux Falls. 
• The last time Augustana and UMC played, Matt Cartwright scored a career-high 37 points. Tyler Riemersma finished with 22 points and 18 rebounds. 
• Tom Billeter recently won his 400th career game. Billeter now stands at 402-226 (.641) in his 21-year career.
• Augustana has moved into the top half of the league in scoring, sitting 6th at 78.8 points per game.
• After pulling down 54 rebounds on Friday's double-OT win, the Vikings are now second in offensive boards (11.3) and third in total rebounds per game (38.1).
• The Vikings are 16-3 when out-rebounding their opponents this season.
• Augustana has a +4.5 rebounding margin, which is 48th in the nation. 
• The Vikings are also forcing 10 turnovers per game, which is 10th in the nation for DII.
• Over the last month, the Vikings bench has been chipping in more than 14 points per game.
• Over the last five games, Augustana is averaging nearly 20 assists (on 29.4 field goals) per game.
• The Vikings have also moved into the top-five in the NSIC in assists/turnover ratio at 1.44 per game.
• Overall, Augustana has three players averaging double-figures, led by Matt Cartwright with 16.0 points a game. Cartwright ranks 14th in the league in scoring.
• A.J. Plitzuweit is averaging 18 points, 4.2 assists, and 3 rebounds over the last five games. The Vermillion native has proven to be on the best free throw shooter in the nation, shooting 88.9 percent from the line this season and standing 27th in the nation. 
• Through 28 games, the Vikings are hitting 37.5 percent from downtown, and are led by Cartwright, who is fourth in the NSIC at 42.8 percent.
• The Vikings are shooting 78.8 percent from the free throw line, which is second in the league.
• Augustana made at least one 3-point field goal in each of the last 454 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 278 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 eight points.
• With a win last week, the Vikings locked in their 13th straight winning season.
• Billeter has only had three losing seasons in his 16 years at Augustana.
• Augustana men's basketball has played 2,197 games in school history, and the program all-time record is 1,093-1,103 (.497).