SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team looks to get back on track, taking I-29 North for a pair of NSIC road games. The Vikings will open the weekend at 5:30 p.m., Friday night against MSU Moorhead before a Saturday afternoon game at 3:30 p.m., against Minnesota Crookston. 

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 Dragons
MSU Moorhead was picked to finish second in the NSIC but hold a record of 11-7 overall and 6-6 in the conference. The Dragons have ranked as high as sixth in the country but are just 2-6 since Dec. 20 with injuries playing a major factor. JaMir Price returned last weekend after missing nearly the entire season and was named to the NSIC Shining Five team after averaging 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Carson Johnson averages 19.9 points per game to lead MSUM.

About the Golden Eagles
Minnesota Crookston was selected 14th in the NSIC Preseason Poll and are 3-15 overall, 2-10 in the NSIC. UMC has lost seven straight and are 1-6 at home. Reid Grant is averaging 14.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while dishing a team-high 87 assists. 

About the Vikings
Augustana is 9-9 overall and 6-6 in the NSIC after a late loss to Minot State on Saturday. 

After a career-high 24 points, Tanner Te Slaa moved into the team lead with 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 38.7 percent from deep. Akoi Akoi is second on the Vikings with 13.4 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent from the field. He is also second on the team with 2.3 assists per game. 

Sam Rensch adds 11.4 points per game and 1.8 steals per game while providing havoc to a defense that forces the second most turnovers in the NSIC.

Tameron Ferguson continues to grow into his own while running the point for the Vikings. Ferguson scored in double figures for the seventh time in his last eight games while shooting 50 percent from the field and playing all 40 minutes. He scored a career-best 25 points against Concordia-St. Paul on Dec. 14. 

The true freshman is fourth on the team with 9.3 points per game and has facilitated well, holding a 50/19 assist/turnover ratio. Although he does not qualify, missing the 3.0 assist/game threshold by four total assists, Ferguson would rank first in the NSIC and 30th nationally with a 2.63 assist/turnover ratio. 

In his first season of action, Bennett Fried has already shown growth. The redshirt freshman is averaging 8.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. In 14 games since entering the starting lineup, Fried is fifth on the team with 9.8 points and a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting at a 59.0 percent clip. 

Trends To Watch
The Vikings are 8-4 when leading at the half this season. The defense has propelled AU as they are 9-5 when holding opponents under 50 percent shooting from the field and are 7-1 when holding teams under 70 points. Offensively, the engine runs when the 3-pointers fall. The Vikings are 4-1 on the season when making more 3-pointers than their opponent. 

Series History
Augustana and MSU Moorhead will match up for the 33rd time all-time with the Vikings holding an 18-14 advantage. AU broke a three game losing streak with an 83-76 win last February. 

The Golden Eagles will take on Vikings for the 26th time with AU holding a 22-3 advantage. The Vikings have won five straight games and have won those games by an average margin of 22.8 points. 

--GoAugie.com--