BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Recently named NSIC South Division co-champions, the Augustana men's basketball team can now also add a pair of league honors to their season accomplishments. On Thursday, the NSIC announced A.J. Plitzuweit as the Freshman of the Year and sophomore Matt Cartwright All-NSIC second team. Plitzuweit also earns a spot on the All-NSIC Honorable Mention team.

In his first year on campus, A.J. has done a majority of his damage as the Viking floor general leading the team with 101 assists. In conference action only, Plitzuweit ranks 6th in the NSIC with 4.4 assists per game and is the only freshman in the top 15. Plitzuweit also stands 11th in the NSIC with a 1.9 assist/turnover ratio and is the only freshman in the top-15. 

A Wisconsin native who played his final two years of high school in Vermillion, A.J. has made an immediate impact on the Viking campus. In league play, Plitzuweit leads all NSIC freshman in scoring at 15.8 points per game. He is the only freshman in the top-25 and overall, ranks 17th in the NSIC in points per game. Non-conference included, A.J. is second on the team with 14.6 points per game. 

Plitzuweit is also having a historic year from the free throw line, draining 84-of-93 attempts (90.3 percent) in NSIC play, which slots him 4th in the league. At 88.9 percent overall, AJ is currently tied for 4th all-time for single-season at Augustana. 

The Vikings now have five of the last 10 freshmen of the year in the NSIC. Cody Schilling (2009), Cameron McCaffrey (2010), Dan Jansen (2013), and Jordan Spencer (2015) have also earned the award. 

One of the best shooters in the league, Cartwright ends the regular season 12th in the NSIC with 17.1  points per game during league action. Matt is knocking down an average of 2.7 three-pointer per game, which is 6th in the NSIC. 

A native of Sioux Falls, Cartwright put his name on the NSIC map with a 37-point performance vs. Minnesota Crookston back in December. The 37 points are not only a career-high but stand 7th best in the NSIC this season. Overall, Cartwright sits 14th in the league in scoring average. 

The sophomore is also 4th in the NSIC in three-point percentage (42.8)  and third on the team in free throw percentage, collecting 44-of-50 attempts (88 percent) this season.   

Cartwright, who is one of two Vikings to play in and start in all 28 games this year (Dylan LeBrun), also contributed more than 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game this season. Over the last two seasons, Cartwright has increased his average in nearly every offensive category for the Vikings.  

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.