BEMIDJI, Minn. - The Augustana men's basketball team knocked down 17 of 32 from deep and had five players in double figures to lift them to a 98-66 rout of the Bemidji State Beavers on Saturday night at the BSU Gymnasium. 

The Vikings jump to 7-8 overall and 4-5 in the NSIC while the Beavers fall to 6-8, 3-5. 

Four of five starters scored in double figures, led by 19 points, five rebounds, five 3-pointers and four assists from Tanner Te Slaa. Akoi Akoi added 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. Tameron Ferguson was an all-around stud for AU, scoring 15 points, nabbing five steals and grabbing four rebounds. He also dished six assists without turning the ball over. 

Sam Rensch knocked down four 3-pointers while scoring 14 points. Jack Hastreiter scored 12 points off the bench. The Vikings saw massive advantages in points off turnovers (27-2), fast break points (22-0) and points in the paint (42-22). The Vikings had season-highs in field goal percentage (54.2%) and 3-point percentage (53.1%) while holding BSU to 35.6 and 30.3 percent, respectively. 

After BSU opened the game with three points, Te Slaa knocked down a 3-pointer and Akoi slammed home a dunk to give AU a 5-3 lead with 16:42 to play in the first half. With the Beavers leading 8-7, Jack Hastreiter cashed in an and-one and Ferguson knocked down a 3-pointer to take a 13-8 lead at the 14:09 mark. 

With the Beavers leading 16-15, the shots started to fall for Augustana. Six of the next eight shots found the bottom of the net, including three 3-pointers to go on a 15-0 run. Rensch scored eight to lead the run and give the Vikings a 30-16 lead with 6:01 to go in the half.

The Vikings continued to squeak ahead after a Beaver jumper ended the run. AU outscored BSU 15-9 in the final 4:21 of the half as the Vikings shot 6 of 9 from the field to take a 45-30 into the locker room. 

Ferguson opened the scoring in the second half with a layup and Fried and Akoi each scored a pair of points after a Beaver bucket to stretch the lead to 19. That lead was still at 19 at the 13:58 mark before the offensive avalanche continued. 

The Vikings shot five of their next six as Te Slaa, Akoi, Hastreiter and Ferguson combined for a 13-3 run to take a 74-45 lead with 11:52 to play. The teams combined to score six straight buckets and the Beavers were able to inch closer, cutting their deficit to 26 with 8:12 to play. 

The defense clamped down BSU the rest of the way, holding the Beavers to six points on 1 of 10 shooting the rest of the way while scoring 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting to run away with the win. Fried was solid in the final stretch, scoring five points to help bring the game to its final score. 

The Vikings return home next weekend, starting with a 7:30 p.m., tip against UMary inside the Elmen Center.