SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the fourth-straight weekend, it's just a single-game weekend for the Augustana men's basketball team as the Vikings travel to UMary on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. contest. Friday's contest at Minot State was previously announced canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Minot State program.
 
The Game
The single contest of a week has appeared to have become the norm through the middle portion of the season. However, the fresher legs have helped propel AU to a 12-2 overall record and 6-2 mark within the NSIC. The Vikings also launched back into the NABC Top-25 at No. 23 in this week's poll. UMary is playing at home for the first time since Jan. 2 and holds a 3-2 record inside its home gymnasium.  
 
About the Marauders
UMary enters the weekend holding a 5-9 overall record and 4-5 mark in the NSIC. Prior to facing the Vikings on Saturday, the blue and orange will look to pirate a victory from Wayne State.
 
The Marauders have won two of their last three games with the lone setback being a 77-73 loss to Southwest Minnesota State last time out in Marshall, Minnesota. In the game, Kai Huntsberry went off for a game-high 26 points on 22 shot attempts.
 
For the year, it is Huntsberry who leads the team with 18.6 points per outing. He is the only player in double-figure scoring while Kam Warrens leads the way with 6.8 rebounds per game.
 
As a team, UMary averages 69.8 points per game while giving up 77.0. It shoots the ball at a 43.7 percent clip while opponents are shooting at 49.8 percent from the field.
 
About the Vikings
Augustana has proven to be one of the top teams in the nation in 2021-22 with its 12-2 record. That includes a 67-50 toppling of Northern State last time out, a game that saw Tyler Riemersma do, well Tyler Riemersma things, with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Dylan LeBrun and Isaac Fink each found double-digit scoring as well with 19 points and 10 points, respectively.
 
For the season, Augustana is led by Riemersma and his double-double average of 17.4 points and 10.7 rebounds per outing. He is the only player in the NSIC with a double-double average. Joining him in double-figure scoring on a nightly basis are Fink (15.6), LeBrun (12.4) and Adam Dykman (10.9).
 
The Vikings average 75.3 points per outing while holding opponents to 62.7 points per game with an outstanding defense (more on that below). To help score the 75.3 points, Augustana shoots 45.8 percent from the field and has sunk 98 3-point baskets at a 35.6 percent clip.
 
One Last Thing
Augustana's scoring defense is the league's best, and in all honesty, it's not even close. Giving up an average of just 62.7 points per outing, the next best scoring defense is Wayne State at 66.6 points per game. The league average is 72 points. Nationally, Augustana's scoring defense is ranked No. 14.