SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team continues its NSIC season Friday and Saturday at Upper Iowa and Winona State, respectively. Tipoff at Upper Iowa is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. while the game with Winona State is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
The Games
It's a pair of teams the Vikings are facing that are entering the weekend nearly identical in the win-loss column. Both teams are 7-7 overall. Both teams are 4-4 in the NSIC. Both teams own a single loss at home. Both teams have won just one road game.
 
The Peacocks
Upper Iowa is 3-2 since the last meeting between the Peacocks and Vikings. Last weekend, UIU split with Northern State (W, 95-86) and MSU Moorhead (L, 98-84). A trio of Peacocks average double figures, led by Jareese Williams at 14.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Williams is deadly from long, leading the NSIC and ranking 17^th in the nation with his 48-percent clip from 3-point range.
 
The Warriors
Since the Vikings and Warriors last met in early December, Winona State is 4-2. Most recently, the Warriors had a four-game win streak snapped in a 72-68 loss at Northern State. Kevion Taylor, one of the NSIC's most prolific scorers, leads Winona State at 19.1 points per game. He is joined in double figures by Caleb Wagner at 17.7 points per contest. Taylor also leads the team in rebounds at 7.2 points per contest.
 
The Vikings
Augustana dropped just its second league game of 2019-20 and owns a 6-2 mark in NSIC action after splitting with Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls last weekend. Sophomore Matt Todd continued his campaign as the NSIC Newcomer of the Year with a game-high 25 points in the win over SMSU.
 
For the year, Todd ranks second on the team with his 13.9 points per game. Junior Matt Cartwright leads the way with 16.1 points per contest but has not played since Dec. 7. Junior Tyler Riemersma totals 11.2 points per game and grabs a team-best 9.1 rebounds per outing. He ranks 37^th in the nation with a rebounding average and ranks 13^th in NCAA Division II with 3.7 offensive rebounds per game.
 
One Last Thing
For the first time in 2019-20, Augustana is not in first place of the NSIC standings. However, the Vikings are not out of the running. In fact, four schools are within a game of first place and another three schools are two games out of first place. There are 14 games remaining on the NSIC schedule. Augustana owns the most overall wins in the league with 11.