SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team will host the first edition of the Bill Gross Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Elmen Center. The Vikings will welcome preseason GLVC favorite Truman State, preseason NSIC favorite Minnesota State and future NSIC foe Jamestown for four games. 

Friday, Nov. 29
Jamestown vs. Minnesota State, Noon
Truman State at Augustana, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30
Minnesota State vs. Truman State, 11 a.m.
Jamestown at Augustana, 1 p.m.

Complete action can be followed on GoAugie.com/Live and the GoAugie app, presented by The Original Pancake House. The app can be downloaded in the App Store or Google Play. 

About the Bulldogs
Truman State was picked to win the GLVC and has opened the season 3-2 after falling to Rockhurst in its conference opener on Tuesday. Kobi Williams averages 13.0 points per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field. He is one of four averaging in double figures. Trey Shearer adds 12.8 points per game while Xavier Hall is scoring 10 points and dishing 7.0 assists per game. 

About the Jimmies
Jamestown was picked to finish third in the NSAA and has opened the season 3-4. They have taken on four NSIC foes in their nonconference slate, defeating UMary and Northern State while falling to Sioux Falls and Minot State. Silas Bennion averages 14.4 points and 2.9 assists per game to lead the Jimmies while Anthony Walters adds 14.4 points per game and shoots 42.9 percent from deep. 

About the Vikings
Augustana is 3-2 after dropping its NSIC opener at USF on Tuesday.

Akoi Akoi was named East/West Tournament MVP last weekend after averaging 23.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He put the finishing touches on the selection in the final seconds against the Yellow Jackets, hitting a 3-pointer with under five seconds to play. Joining him on the All-Tournament Team was Sam Rensch, who averaged 18.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. 

Tanner Te Slaa is averaging 14.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game after collecting his second double-double of the season against the Cougars, leading Augustana with 16 points and 10 rebounds. 

Rensch is second on the Vikings with 13.4 points and 2.4 steals per game. He scored a career-high 22 points on 9 of 18 shooting while knocking down four 3-pointers and grabbing five steals against BHSU last weekend. Akoi follows with 12.6 points per game and has grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game. 

In his collegiate debut on Nov. 8, Tameron Ferguson scored 13 points while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing six assists to help lead the Vikings to victory. He is fourth on the team with 7.0 points per game and has facilitated well, holding a 14/4 assist/turnover ratio. 

Series History
Augustana and Truman State will match up for the fifth time all-time with the Vikings leading 3-1. AU has won the three previous meetings, last meeting in 2007. The Vikings have never lose to Jamestown in six previous meetings and will face off with the future NSIC foe for the first time since 2012.

NSIC Preview
The Vikings were selected to finish sixth in the NSIC Preseason Poll after finishing seventh a season ago. Akoi Akoi was tabbed the Preseason Player to Watch.

Viking Preview
Augustana welcomes plenty of fresh faces to a team that features five returning letterwinners. Leading the charge is Akoi Akoi. The senior averaged 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game a year ago while shooting 45.9 percent from deep. Caden Hinker also returns after adding 7.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while playing all 30 games. 

Four newcomers have seen NCAA action and look to make an immediate impact. Tanner Te Slaa is the most experienced of the bunch after playing 43 games and making a start over two seasons at SDSU. Te Slaa scored 86 points and knocked down 19 3-pointers. 

Kelton Coleman enters the mix after earning All-Freshman Team and All-SCAC honorable mention honors at the University of Dallas. He averaged 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 19.7 minutes per game while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range. He was an energizer off the bench for the Crusaders, averaging 27.9 points per 40 minutes.

In all, Augustana returns one starter from last season and four student-athletes that saw action in at least 28 games. Sam Rensch and Brady Helgren were the two others outside of Akoi and Hinker to join that list. 

Roster Breakdown
Augustana's roster features one senior, five juniors, four sophomores, three redshirt freshmen and two true freshmen

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