SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Up three with the shot clock and game clock winding down, Matt Todd sank a jump shot to ice the game for the Augustana men's basketball team Friday night inside the Sanford Pentagon. The Vikings prevailed 73-66 over Minnesota State to split the season series.
 
Augustana, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the contest, improves to 10-9 in the NSIC and 15-10 overall. The Vikings are now one game behind fourth place, and a chance at hosting a first round NSIC Tournament contest, Minnesota State who is now 11-8 in league play and 13-12 overall.
 
Augustana trailed 26-11 with 12:07 remaining in the first half when it embarked on an 18-2 run to take a 29-28 lead. Freshman Isaac Fink scored 11-straight points in the run, on three 3-point baskets and a jumper in the paint, to cut the deficit to four points. Moments later, it was fellow freshman Bennett Otto who gave Augustana the one-point advantage.
 
The two teams would battle to a 36-all score at halftime.
 
That set the stage for the second half which featured six ties and three lead changes, along with a combined 27 fouls, in a physical back-and-forth affair.
 
The Mavericks gathered a lead of six points just four minutes into the second half but the Vikings didn't relent and knotted the game at 45-all.
 
Trailing 50-49, Augustana used a 10-0 run to grab a 59-50 advantage with 8:25 on the clock. However, Minnesota State wasn't going away quietly, using a 9-0 run of its own to knot the game at 59-all with just over four minutes remaining.
 
Augustana put a screeching halt to the MSU momentum as Dylan LeBrun drove hard to the basket and drew a foul where he sank a pair of free throws. The lead eventually grew to four points at 69-65 but once again saw the Mavericks sneak within a basket at 69-66.
 
It was then that Todd sank his jumper with 19 seconds on the clock. The defense stiffened and Fink corralled the missed Mavericks' shot where he went to the free-throw line to secure the 73-66 win.
 
Augustana was led by Fink with 22 points, a game-high, while Todd totaled 15 points and LeBrun 12. LeBrun played the final 11 minutes with four fouls. Tyler Riemersma tallied 12 rebounds while Michael Schaefer secured 10 rebounds on the night.
 
The Vikings, who shot 61.1 percent from 3-point range in the victory at St. Cloud State, appear to have snapped out of their long-range funk as they connected on 9-of-18 3-point field goals Friday.
 
Minnesota State was led by Cameron Kirksey with 17 points on 15 shot attempts.
 
Augustana remains at home Saturday hosting Concordia-St. Paul at 5:30 p.m. The night is Senior Night for the Vikings with a pregame ceremony taking place prior to tip-off.