SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team fell 82-80 Friday night to Minot State inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The Vikings, who shot 50 percent from the field for the game, fell just short after trailing by seven points with just under two minutes to play.
 
Sophomore Matt Todd scored a pair of free throws and junior Tyler Riemersma scored on a layup for a quick 4-0 Augustana (12-9, 7-8 NSIC) run with 56 seconds on the clock. Minot State (10-11, 4-11) found itself on the free-throw line on the ensuing possession to push the lead back to five points.
 
Not going away quietly, Todd sprinted the length of the floor to again pull the Vikings within three at 79-76. Needing to stretch the game out, Augustana sent Kyle Beisch to the charity stripe where he sank both free-throw attempts proving it would be an uphill battle for AU.
 
Sophomore Michael Schaefer again pulled Augustana within two points on a layup of his own with seven seconds remaining but the Beavers again made their free throws down the stretch as Augustana could only get within two points as the final buzzer sounded at 82-80.
 
Augustana held the lead three different times throughout the game and held an advantage as large as eight points in the first half before seeing Minot State chip away at the advantage. AU carried a 41-39 lead into halftime before Minot State captured its first lead of the game near the midpoint of the second half.
 
Todd scored 19 points for the Vikings while Schaefer added 13 and sophomore Dylan LeBrun totaled 11 points. Augustana controlled the boards, outrebounding Minot State 41-24 led by a season-high seven from Todd. The Vikings totaled 15 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance points.
 
Minot State was led by Max Cody with 22 points as he played all 40 minutes and tallied eight assists.
 
Augustana remains at home Saturday with a 5:30 tip-off with UMary.