SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A nearly 10-minute scoring drought stopped the Augustana men's basketball team in a 65-59 loss to Sioux Falls Saturday evening inside the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The loss drops the Vikings (11-3, 6-2 NSIC) out of first place in the NSIC standings while the Cougars (11-3, 7-1 NSIC) move into first place.
 
Augustana shot 31.7 percent from the field for the game, connecting on 20-of-63 field goal attempts while the Cougars shot 46.2 percent on 24-of-52 field goal attempts.
 
The Cougars built a lead as large as 10 points in the opening half but saw the Vikings rally back with a 10-3 run in the closing minutes for a halftime score of 34-31.
 
Augustana was unable to find its offensive rhythm in the second stanza, shooting just 28.6 percent from the field, including the nearly 10-minute scoring drought. However, during that stretch, the Augustana defense stiffened allowing just four points from USF. By the time the Vikings scored again, it was a 58-53 USF lead with 2:12 remaining.
 
The lid on the basket closed again until a 3-point basket from Isaac Fink pulled the Vikings within seven points at 63-56 but time quickly running out. The final points of the game came on a Dylan LeBrun trey for the final score of 65-59.
 
LeBrun led with a team-high 13 points while Matt Todd added 10.
 
For just the second time this season, Augustana was out-rebounded at 40-36. Michael Schaefer and Tyler Riemersma each grabbed seven rebounds for the Vikings.
 
Jack Thompson led Sioux Falls with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting including five-made 3-point baskets.
 
Augustana plays at Upper Iowa on Friday and at Winona State on Saturday for its first road trip of the 2020 calendar year.