KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Augustana men's basketball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 72-58 win over No. 11 Washburn Saturday night at the Central Region Challenge.
 
Washburn falls to 1-1 as the Vikings top their first ranked opponent since the National Championship game in the 2016 season. The Vikings were led by Isaac Fink with 23 points, Adam Dykman with 18 points and Tyler Riemersma with 16 points. Dykman and Riemersma each tallied double-doubles with 11 and 14 rebounds each, respectively. The double-double is the fourth-straight for Riemersma dating back to the final two games of 2021.
 
The conclusion wasn't much in question throughout as the Vikings ran out of the gates to an 18-4 lead. After an opening free throw from Dykman and layup from Fink, the Vikings hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back 3-point baskets to cruise to the opening advantage. It wasn't until Fink hit Dykman for a 3-point basket for the 18^th point that forced the Ichabods into a timeout.
 
Washburn was able to cut into the deficit several times to just 11 points, but each time Augustana answered back. With the score sitting at 27-16, Fink hit back-to-back treys before Dykman slammed one through the rim to push AU to a 35-16 lead with 4:30 on the clock.
 
Augustana entered halftime holding a 43-21 lead. The Vikings shot 53.3 percent from the field in the opening half and made 7-of-14 3-point shot attempts to aid in the lead. Conversely, the Vikings' defense limited Washburn to just seven made field goals while shooting 24.1 percent from the field.
 
On the opening possession of the second half, Dykman scored a 3-point basket to push the lead to the largest of the game at 25 points.
 
Although Washburn would slightly cut into the deficit again, the lead always hovered between 17 and 20 points throughout the half. It wasn't until a pair of baskets late in the contest by WU that gave the final score of 72-58.
 
Augustana ended the game shooting 44.6 percent from the field on 25-of-56 shot attempts while hitting 39.1 percent from 3-point range. The Ichabods shot 34.4 percent from the field.
 
Several Vikings made their collegiate debuts in the game, a night after Akoi Akoi made his debut against Southern Arkansas. Against Washburn, Alex Distras, Veron Eze, Zac Johnson and Angelo Winkel all saw time on the floor in the Vikings' win.
 
Augustana remains on the road next weekend as it travels to Aberdeen, South Dakota, for the East/West Challenge. The Vikings face Black Hills State on Friday at 5 p.m. and South Dakota Mines on Saturday at 2 p.m.