SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Despite a five-game win streak and peaking into the playoffs, the Augustana men's basketball team dropped their opening round game of the NSIC/Sanford health basketball tournament, 87-72, to Minnesota Crookston. Augustana is now 18-11, and Crookston moves to 17-15. 

Augustana saw four players hit double-figures, led by Matt Cartwright and Dylan LeBrun with 15 points. Michael Schaefer contributed 13 points, and A.J. Plitzuweit finished with 10 points and team-high three assists. Tyler Riemersma chipped in nine points and a game-high nine rebounds. 

Augustana shot 22-of-63 from the field, and once again did a good amount of damage from the free throw line. The Vikings entered Wednesday second in the league in free throw percentage, and finished 20-23 (87 percent) from the charity stripe. 

With the Vikings trailing by just six points at halftime, Crookston opened the second half on a 24-3 run, including 6-of-7 three-pointers. The Golden Eagles ended the night 18-of-26 (68 percent) from downtown.

Augustana, who started four freshmen for the majority of the season and has no seniors on their roster, will head into 2019-20 with every student-athlete returning to the team. 

Matt Cartwright started the scoring on Wednesday with a triple from the right wing, and LeBrun came back with a bucket in the paint. With the Vikings leading 5-3, the visiting Golden Eagles used a 15-6 to take control early on. 

The Vikings used back-to-back and-ones from Schaefer and Riemersma to tie the game at 26, but Minnesota Crookston continued to respond from downtown. Cartwright kept the Vikings close with straight away three, however, Augustana still trailed 35-28 at the 5:09 mark of the first half. 

In the final minutes of the first, Schaefer worked his way to double-digits on a pair of free throws. Still trailing 42-36, LeBrun picked up a pair of turnovers and turned them into five quick points. By halftime, the Vikings trailed 42-36. 

In the first 20 minutes, Minnesota Crookston shot 16-31 (52 percent) from the field, including 62 percent from downtown. Augustana did pull down 20 rebounds but shot 12-of-31 (38 percent) in the first half. Schaefer had 11 points, and Riemersma had 8 points and a team-high 6 rebounds.

In a game that featured multiple delays for the fire alarm going off, the ball didn't bounce the way of the home team in the final frame. Crookston opened the second half on a 26-3 run, including 6-of-7 from downtown and opened up a 66-39 lead.

Following a bucket from Jameson Bryan and five straight from Matt Cartwright, the Viking had cut the deficit to 18 points but still needed another run. 

Led by LeBrun and Cartwright, Augustana went on a 23-9 run to get the deficit to 12 points at 75-62, but with just 4:10 to play, Crookston second-half cushion was enough to carry them to the finish. 

Harrison Cleary scored a game-high 22 points for the visitors. 

Augustana, who was ranked ninth in the latest NCAA DII central region poll, will find out their postseason fate on Sunday, March 10, at 9:30 p.m in the NCAA selection show.