SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Highlighted by 15 games in Sioux Falls and 12 at the Sanford Pentagon, Augustana men's basketball head coach Tom Billeter is pleased to announce the programs 2019-20 schedule. The 29-game slate starts in October with an exhibition game and runs through February before the start of postseason play. 

Billeter is excited about this year's slate and the chance to play some tough teams from all over the country. 

"We are looking forward to the 2019-20 season and having so many players back," Billeter said. "Our first two games of the season will immediately test us, and the East-West Challenge provides a great opportunity for our west river alumni and fans to see us in action in Spearfish, S.D. The NSIC portion of the schedule speaks for itself as we again do battle in one of the toughest Division II conferences in the country."

Following an exhibition with Cornell (IA) at the Elmen Center on Oct. 27, the Viking hit Sanford Pentagon and Heritage court for the first time on Nov. 1. The exhibition tip-off vs. Concordia Moorhead is set to start at 7 p.m.

Augustana will once again open the regular season on the road, heading down to Warrensburg, Missouri for the opening-weekend Conference Challenge. Teams from both the Great American Conference (GAC) and the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) will be playing in the event. Augustana starts with Arkansas-Monticello on Sat. Nov. 9 (6 p.m.), and closes the weekend with Central Missouri (6 p.m.) on Sunday, Nov 10.

For the second-straight season, Augustana will square up in the East vs. West Challenge. Hosted by Black Hills State, Augustana takes on the Yellow Jackets at 7:30 p.m (CT) on Friday, Nov. 15, before taking on SD School of Mines on Nov. 16. The Vikings return home for the final non-conference matches of the year, welcoming in Buena Vista (IA) for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Nov. 21, and taking on Nebraska Christian College Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Augustana starts the NSIC slate with a matchup against travel partner Wayne State, playing in Wayne, Neb. on Sat. Nov. 30. Augustana then returns home for their conference home-opener, Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m at the Sanford Pentagon vs. Winona State. The Vikings close the weekend with Upper Iowa on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.

Following a pair of road games in Crookston and Bemidji, Minnesota, the Vikings close out the 2019 calendar with another home game, taking on Wayne State on Dec. 21 at the Sanford Pentagon. The Viking open up 2020 with two more home games, first taking on SMSU on Friday, Jan. 3, and hosting cross-town rival the University of Sioux Falls on Jan. 4. 

The Vikings have another in-state matchup just two weeks later, taking on Northern State on Friday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The Vikings close the weekend with MSU Moorhead on Saturday at 5:30 at the Pentagon.

Augustana goes back on the road in early February, heading to Minnesota to take on Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 7) and St. Cloud State (Feb. 8). The following weekend, Augustana wraps up the regular season home schedule with a pair of games vs. Minnesota State and Concordia St-Paul. All NSIC regular-season games are men's and women's double headers. 

Augustana ends the regular season with a trip to USF (Feb. 21, 7:30) and SMSU (Feb. 22, 5:30). The NSIC postseason opening-round action starts on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with the top-eight seeds hosting games. 

Season tickets are available to purchase now for the 2019-20 basketball season and include tickets to all home, regular-season men's & women's matchups at the Sanford Pentagon and the Elmen Center.  Season tickets include reserved seating at all games hosted at the Sanford Pentagon and start at $169/seat. Seating locations for new season ticket holders will be set after A-Club members select their seats in early September.

To purchase season tickets, or to learn about premium seating options at the Sanford Pentagon, call 877-GoAugie or fill out the ticket interest form at GoAugie.com. Fans are also encouraged to support Augustana Athletics by joining the A-Club, helping to build champions in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. For more information on the A-Club and priority seating benefits for members, visit GoAugie.com/Aclub.

About the Sanford Pentagon
The cornerstone of the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the Sanford Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot, five-sided facility featuring nine basketball courts, including the 1950s/1960s-inspired Heritage Court. The venue combines state-of-the-art amenities—including high-definition video boards and executive suites—with period-specific finishes that are a nod to the nostalgic days of basketball.

The 3,200-seat Pentagon is home to Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, Sanford POWER Volleyball Academy, the NBA G League's Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Augustana Vikings men's and women's basketball teams, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's and Men's Basketball tournaments and the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. For more information, visit sanfordpentagon.com.