SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana Vikings fell 75-70 at the hands of future NSIC foe Jamestown on Saturday afternoon in the Elmen Center.

Akoi Akoi led all scorers with 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting while adding five rebounds and three assists. He was one of five Vikings in double figures. Sam Rensch added 14 points and three steals. 

In his first career start, Bennett Fried scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Tanner Te Slaa added 10 points and two blocks and Kelton Coleman had 10 points off the bench while adding a pair of steals. 

Akoi scored the first four Viking points, sandwiching a UJ 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 4-3 lead through 1:35 of action. After a two-pointer from the Jimmies, Rensch and Fried each picked up a bucket to go ahead 8-5. 

UJ went on to hit their next four shots, including three 3-pointers, as part of an 11-1 run and added a 10-0 run following a Te Slaa 3-pointer to mount a 26-12 lead with 10:20 left in the half. 

The Vikings inched closer, closing the deficit to 30-18 with 4:35 to go. For the remainder of the first half, Coleman lit it up. The sophomore shot 4 of 5 from the field while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers down the stretch to lead a 12-8 run, bringing the Vikings within 38-30 at the half. 

Jamestown took the first two and a half minutes of the second half to increase its lead to double digits at 46-34. The Vikings marched from there as seven Akoi points and a pair of Fried buckets helped ignite a 13-2 run in 3:30 of game time to bring AU within one at 48-47 with 12:59 remaining. 

Even after the punch from the Vikings, the Jimmies fired right back, going on a 21-8 tear to rebuild a lead back, this time leading 69-55 with 6:40 to go in the game. 

Rensch refused to go down without a fight, pouring in seven points to led a 9-2 run to get the Vikings abc within 71-64 with 2:48 remaining. 

After a UJ dunk, Rensch hit another 3-pointer to get the game to two possessions at 73-67 with 40 seconds left. The Jimmies hit a pair of free throws and the Vikings hit a 3-pointer to round out the scoring. 

The Vikings return to NSIC action on Friday night, taking on Winona State at 7:30 p.m., inside the Sanford Pentagon.