SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Augustana men's basketball team heads into the weekend with a pair of South Division matchups against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. On Thursday, the Vikings will take on the Mustangs at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday at the Elmen Center before a 3 p.m., Saturday tip-off at the Stewart Center against the Cougars.
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 Mustangs
Southwest Minnesota State was selected to win the conference in the NSIC Preseason Poll. The Mustangs are 2-3 on the season and defeated Sioux Falls last Tuesday in their lone conference game. Preseason Player of the Year Jacob Braaten averages 16.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to lead the team. Aeron Stevens is right behind him averaging 16.4 points per game and Mekhi Shaw averages 10.0 points per game.
About the Cougars
Sioux Falls was selected to finish eighth overall and sixth in the division in the NSIC Preseason Poll. The Cougars have started 2-4 overall and lost their only NSIC game against SMSU. Taylen Ashley is one of four Cougars in double figures, scoring 16.3 points per game and adds 3.5 assists per game.
Last Time Out
Augustana men's basketball cruised to a 90-63 victory over Bellevue on Sunday afternoon at the Elmen Center.
The Vikings led nearly wire-to-wire, using a 55-point first half to seize control and never letting the Bruins threaten down the stretch. Augustana dominated inside, outscoring Bellevue 38-20 in the paint and matching the Bruins with 13 second-chance points.
For the second straight game, the Vikings shot at least 50.0% from the field (31-of-62) and went a season-best 20-of-21 at the free-throw line (95.2%). Bellevue was held to 32.4% shooting overall (22-of-68) and 20.5% from three (8-of-39).
It was a team effort for the Vikings as each of the first 10 players to take the court made at least a basket, led by 16 points from Tameron Ferguson. Feguson added six assists and four rebounds while going 6 of 10 from the field. Tanner Te Slaa added 15 points and eight rebounds while making all seven free throws he attempted.
Caden Hinker made 5 of 8 attempts from the field on his way to a 14 point, five rebound game and Bennett Fried also added five rebounds while scoring 10 points.
About the Vikings
Augustana has opened the season 3-3 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC coming off a Sunday victory against Bellevue. They did that after playing a tough non-conference slate, with two of their three losses coming by four points or less.
Tameron Ferguson has been strong to open his sophomore campaign, leading the team with 20.2 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 58.3 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from deep. He has tallied at least 20 points in four of his last five games, including a 27-point performance against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 15. His 20-point, 11-assist double-double against Wayne State to open conference play also stands as the first point-assist double-double in eight seasons for the Vikings.
After missing all of last season, Caden Hinker has been a dominant force in his return. The redshirt junior has recorded double-doubles in four of his last five games while leading the team and the NSIC with 9.0 rebounds per game. He scored a career-high 22 points against Wayne State last Tuesday and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 15.
Senior Sam Rensch is third on the team with 11.7 points per game. He is also second on the team with 2.5 assists per game and has grabbed 3.5 rebounds per contest. He has recorded multiple steals in his last five contests and scored a season-high 16 points in the opener against Missouri Western. He also leads the team with 2.0 steals per game.
After a slow start, 2024-25 All-NSIC Second Team selection, Tanner Te Slaa, is finding his groove. The senior has scored 15 points in each of the last two games while knocking down all eight free-throws attempted while shooting 6 of 13 from deep and 8 of 15 from the field.
Series History
Augustana and SMSU will meet for the 49th time with AU leading the series 32-16. The Vikings have won 12 of the last 13 meetings, including two wins last season while the Mustangs were ranked. AU is 17-6 at home in the series.
It'll be the 85th iteration of the Vikings and Cougars with the series deadlocked at 42-42. Augustana is 13-17 as the road team and have lost five straight in the series, a stretch that follows a five-game Viking win streak.
