MANKATO, Minn. – Jadan Graves went off for 29 points while sinking seven 3-point field goals but the Augustana men's basketball team narrowly fell 89-81 at No. 5 Minnesota State Saturday.
 
Trailing 8-2, Augustana went on a 17-4 run to take a 19-12 lead with 10:39 to go in the first half. The run started with an Arhman Lewis 3-point basket and included eight points from Graves, four from Caden Hinker and two from Brady Helgren.
 
The Vikings took the lead on a layup from Graves and traded baskets with MSU. Hinker then hit a jumper from just outside of the paint to regain the lead at 14-12. AU's lead stretched to seven points after a trey from Graves and another jumper from Hinker.
 
Augustana held a seven-point advantage until 6:12 to go in the half with Minnesota State beginning its comeback when it went on a 19-5 run of its own to take a 35-28 advantage.
 
The lead pushed to 41-32 at the break.
 
The Vikings quickly cut the deficit to just a single digit by opening the half on a 9-1 run and shooting perfectly from the field at 4-for-4. The offense was spread around with 3 points from Graves and two each from Isaac Fink, Caden Kirkman and Lewis.
 
However, the home team again accelerated and opened a 16-point advantage at 61-45 with 12:52 remaining in the game. The point spread floated in that area until AU finished the game on an 18-11 run to have the score settle at 89-81.
 
Joining Graves in double-figure points was Fink with 14, Lewis with 10 and Hinker with 10. Kirkman led AU with seven rebounds.
 
Augustana is back in action Friday at Minnesota Crookston and Saturday at MSU Moorhead. The two contests will complete a four-game road trip for AU.