SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team begins its 2020-21 season Saturday travelling to MSU Moorhead. The Vikings and Dragons will tip off the first official game of the season within the NSIC, either gender, with a 1 p.m. start. The two teams will again play on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Moorhead, Minnesota.
 
MSU Moorhead is not allowing fans into Nemzek Fieldhouse but both games will be streamed on the NSIC Network.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana, the NSIC South Division preseason favorites, returns its entire starting lineup from 2019-20 and 88 percent of the scoring output. Augustana gained momentum at the end of last season, winning six of its last seven games after being decimated by injury for most of the year.
 
First Team All-NSIC selection Tyler Riemersma returns after averaging 12.5 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Fellow double-digit point returners include Matt Todd (12.5), Dylan LeBrun (12.1) and Matt Cartwright, who averaged 13.8 points per game before being sidelined after just nine games.
 
The Vikings open their season on the road for the eighth-straight year and will stay on the road for the first four games of the season. However, the Vikings have shown success in the early portion of the season on the road, winning five of their last six games to open the season.
 
About the Dragons
The Dragons are coming off a 19-12 2019-20 season that saw them go 13-9 in NSIC action. For 2021, MSUM was tabbed second in the NSIC North Division, receiving a first-place vote.
 
Junior Gavin Baumgartner was tabbed as the Dragons' Player to Watch after earning First Team All-NSIC honors last season. He led MSU Moorhead with 17.4 points per game while shooting just over 50-percent from the field.
 
In all, the Dragons return three starters from last season's squad that advanced to the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament. Bryce Irsfeld and Dane Zimmer both join Baumgartner as returning starters. Irsfeld averaged 11.6 points per game while Zimmer tallied 8.3 points on 65.5 percent shooting.
 
How to Watch
The newly launched NSIC Network will carry every basketball game this season for free. In addition to watching online, fans can view the games through apps on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device.
 
One Last Thing
It's been an interesting ride for the Vikings in the national polls without having played a game to this point. The Vikings began the season ranked 17th in the NABC poll, moved up to 13th for two polls before dropping to 16th. That is where the Vikings begin the season.