SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Junior Tyler Riemersma tallied a career-high 29 points in a five-point loss Friday night inside the Sanford Pentagon. The Augustana men's basketball team fell 82-77 to Northern State in a back-and-forth contest featuring 11 ties and eight lead changes.
 
After falling behind by nine points midway through the opening half, Augustana chipped away at the Wolves' lead, pulling within two points at 39-37 before entering halftime trailing 41-37.
 
Five-straight points to open the second half gave Augustana (11-6, 6-5 NSIC) its first lead of the game after a layup from Riemersma and an old-fashioned 3-point play from sophomore Dylan LeBrun. That set up a back-and-forth affair in the second half that saw eight lead changes and 10 ties.
 
Augustana's largest lead of the game came with 15:56 remaining at five points when sophomore Matt Todd sank a 3-point field goal for a 51-46 score. Northern State (13-4, 9-2 NSIC) then slowly chipped away at that advantage and grabbed a one-point lead at 58-57 with 12:54 on the clock.
 
The lead continued to bounce between the two squads until a pair of NSU free throws gave it a two-point advantage with 2:34 on the clock. Augustana would not be able to recover the lead as the Wolves claimed victory at 82-77.
 
Riemersma tallied his 29 points on 11-of-13 shooting. He also grabbed eight rebounds including five on the offensive end. Todd also reached double-figure scoring at 14 points as the Vikings shot 52.8 percent from the field. Augustana sank 16-of-18 free throw attempts.
 
Junior Matt Cartwright made his return to the Viking lineup with nine points on 4-of-9 shooting. He previously missed the Vikings' last seven contests due to injury.
 
Northern State shot 47.5 percent from the field and was led by Parker Fox with 21 points and six rebounds.
 
Augustana looks to snap its four-game skid Saturday against MSU Moorhead. Opening tip from inside the Sanford Pentagon is slated for 5:30 p.m.