SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The NSIC South Division third seed Augustana men's basketball team welcomes Northern State to the Vikings' regular-season home, the Sanford Pentagon, for a quarterfinal contest in the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament on Saturday. The contest is the first of the four quarterfinal games on the day, beginning at noon.
 
The Game
Prior to the game, Augustana Athletics will be hosting a pregame gathering at the Blue Rock Bar & Grill beginning at 10:30 a.m. just across the street from the Pentagon.
 
Saturday's contest is the second meeting between the Vikings and Wolves this season, with the first coming in January, an 82-77 NSU victory. The winner of the quarterfinal contest will face the winner of the Upper Iowa and MSU Moorhead contest following Augustana's game.  
 
The Wolves
Northern State is the NSIC Champion and overall top-seed in the NSIC Tournament. The Wolves own a 23-6 overall record and tallied an 18-4 mark in NSIC action. Northern State advanced to the quarterfinals after fending off Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday night, 79-67. Although SMSU held a slim lead in the opening minutes, the Wolves opened a 17-point lead with six minutes to go before the Mustangs embarked on a comeback attempt that fell short.
 
The Wolves are led by NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team selection Parker Fox and his 19.7 points per game. Mason Stark and Gabe King, both second-team selections, tally 15.3 and 12.1 points per outing. NSU sports the league's best scoring margin at +10.7 points while averaging 80.5 points per game.
 
The Vikings
Augustana is in the quarterfinal round of the NSIC Tournament for the seventh time in the eight years that the NSIC has moved to all 16 teams making the tournament. The Vikings, 19-10 on the season, finished as the south division third seed with a 13-9 record. Augustana topped St. Cloud State 75-67 in the opening round of the tournament on Wednesday behind five players in double-figure scoring led by Michael Schaefer and his 17 points.
 
For the season, Augustana is led by NSIC First Team selection Tyler Riemersma and his 12.7 points per game. He averages a double-double, the only player in the NSIC to do so, with 10.3 rebounds per outing. Matt Todd is just behind in scoring at 12.3 points with Dylan LeBrun adding 12.1 points per game.
 
Augustana averages 79 points per outing while holding opponents to 72.1 points per game. The Vikings continue to be a force rebounding, ranking third in the nation with 1,199 rebounds and ninth with a 7.9 rebound margin.
 
One Last Thing
The Vikings are riding a season-best six-game winning streak into the quarterfinals. Augustana previously had a six-game win streak this season, covering nonconference and the beginning of conference action. The streak is currently tied for the longest in the NSIC. Tied with who? Saturday's opponent, Northern State.