SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Augustana men's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start, falling 72-62 to St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon inside the Sanford Pentagon. 

The Vikings fall to 11-16 overall and 8-13 in the NSIC while the Huskies moved into a tie for first in the NSIC at 18-10, 14-6. 

Akoi Akoi was honored as the lone senior in the Augustana men's basketball senior class of 2025, playing his final regular season game in SIoux Falls. 

Akoi shined in his final home game, tallying 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Tanner Te Slaa joined him in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds while Tameron Ferguson had a team-high 14 points and dished a pair of assists while playing turnover-free for the third time in the last four games. Sam Rensch also reached double digits, scoring 10 points and collecting two steals. 

Akoi scored five of the first 10 AU points to open the game to keep the Vikings within 15-10 in the first 8:17 of game time. The Huskies went on a tear from there, scoring 16 of the next 18 points while increasing their lead to 31-12 over the next 4:48 of action. 

A 3-pointer from Akoi capped off a 7-0 run that would help the Vikings get back within 31-19 with 4:41 remaining in the first half. SCSU replied with a deadly counter, scoring 11 of the next 15 points before a baseline jumper from Rensch closed the scoring and brought AU within 42-25 at the half.  

The Vikings scored five of the first seven points to open the second half to cut their deficit to 14. The continued to creep back as a Jack Hastreiter 3-pointer brought AU within 50-39 with 12:50 remaining. 

The SCSU lead climbed to 20 at 61-41 over the next three minutes. Akoi got the Vikings back on track with a jumper, Ferguson knocked down a pair of free throws and then hit a jumper to claw back and after a pair of Husky free throws, Te Slaa scored four straight points and Kelton Coleman made a pair of free throws to get back within 63-53 with 4:32 to play. 

A 3-pointer from the Huskies brought the Viking deficit to 13, Rensch knocked down a 3-pointer of his own while Akoi and Ferguson each scored a bucket after a Husky free throw to cut the deficit to 67-60 with 2:33 to play. SCSU scored five of the final seven points to bring the game to its final score. 

The Vikings conclude the regular season next Thursday, Feb. 20, against Minot State in Minot, N.D.