SIOUX FALLS (Feb. 10, 2021) --  After four straight road games, (RV) University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (6-2, 4-2 NSIC) returns home to host city rival Augustana (6-5, 4-5 NSIC) in a South Division battle at the Stewart Center on Feb. 12-13. The games, which will be broadcast on Midco Sports Network with David Brown and Brad Newitt on the call, start at 6 pm on Friday and 4 pm on Saturday. The Cougars haven't played a home game since facing Upper Iowa on Jan. 8-9. 

In what will be the 76th meeting in the city rivalry series, the Cougars will look to rebound from a 71-46 loss at Wayne State on Feb. 6, which dropped the Cougars out of first but just percentage points out of first place. USF, which defeated Wayne State on Feb. 5 when Teathloach Pal's wrap-around lay-up was the winning shot in a 70-68 decision.  Pal had his 16th career-double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds. Both Augustana and USF have four games left in the NSIC regular season as both teams try and advance to the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament scheduled for Feb. 25-28 at the Sanford Pentagon.

Follow USF Men's Basketball - Broadcasts - Social Media

Follow USF Men's Basketball on twitter at @USFCooBBall. All USF's home games and NSIC contests are streamed for free through Blue Frame at NSIC Network on USFCougars.com schedule page. Veteran announcer Tom Frederick will provide play-by-play for USF home games while John Gaskins will handle road games, which will be streamed on Blue Frame. USF Men's Games will be available on KWSN.com. Live stats for home games are available at www.sidearmstats.com/mbball.  

Breaking down the rivalry matchup

USF split with the Vikings a year ago with each team winning on the other team's home floor. Augustana took a 61-58 decision  on Feb. 21 as Isaac Fink scored 21 points and Adam Dykman had 11. USF, which trailed 29-28 at halftime, had 17 points from Chase Grinde and 13 points from Jack Thompson. In a 65-59 victory on Jan. 4, 2020 at the Sanford Pentagon, USF, which led 34-31 at halftime, had 20 points from Thompson, who had a career-high five three-pointers to spark USF to the victory.  Austin Slater added 10 points and eight rebounds.  Dylan Lebrun had 14 points and Matt Todd, 10, to lead the Vikings.

At 6-5 this season, the NSIC South pre-season favorites come in after an 84-74 win against Southwest Minnesota State at the Pentagon. The VIkings have lost three of five including a 114-109 road loss to Upper Iowa on Jan. 30. They defeated Winona State, 73-63 on Jan. 24 at home. AU opened the season 4-2 with sweeps over MSU Moorhead and Concordia St. Paul wrapped out two road defeats at Minnesota State (72-67; 79-70) in Mankato. Directed by veteran Head Coach Tom Billeter (426 career wins), the Vikings feature six double-digit scorers led by Michael Schaefer at 13.2 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Also for the Vikings, Tyler Riemersma added 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds while Adam Dykman is supplying 12.5 points and Matt Todd and Isaac Fink provided 12.3 and 12.2 ppg. Dylan LeBrun is scoring 11.8 per game.

USF, which has split road games at Minnesota State and Wayne State over the past two weeks, dropped out of the NABC DII Top-25 rankings but is still receiving points. They would be ranked at 26th if the ranking extended past the top-25. 

As these two rivals meet, Augustana brings in its high-scoring offense, which ranks second in the NSIC with 84.8 points per game. USF, which is scoring 67.4 points per game, is allowing just 68.8 points per game while the Vikings allow 77.1 ppg.  These two squads are the top two rebounding units in the NSIC with the Vikings first at 39.4 per game and USF at second with 39.1 per game. The Cougars have the league's best offensive rebound mark at 14.5 while the Vikings are second at 12.4 per game. In rebound margin, USF is first in the NSIC at 9.8. The Vikings are hitting 45.0 from the floor while USF is at 40.6 percent. While USF is a 26.4 percent on three-point shooting, the VIkings sit 35.9 percent for 10th in the NSIC.  The Vikings also averaged nine made threes a game while USF is a four per game.

Quick review of USF Men's Basketball
Under the guidance of reigning NSIC Coach of the Year Chris Johnson, the Cougars opened the season with a pair of nonconference and two conference home wins. USF turned back U-Mary, 64-60, and 71-68 in overtime. Then, they recorded 68-55 and 87-76 decisions over Upper Iowa at the SC before the four straight road games at MSU and Wayne State resulted in a 2-2 mark.  USF is led by All-NSIC senior forward Teathloach Pal with 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. , which ranks third in the league.  Pal has 16 career double-doubles, 31 double-digit scoring games and 20 games in his career with double-digits in rebounds. USF, which has four players averaging nine points or better, is receiving 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game from Jack Thompson, who has nine three-pointers to lead USF.

Series Notes - Cougars trail Vikings, 38-37 in rivalry that began in 1922

The USF-Augustana series dates back to 1922 when the Cougars recorded a 30-12 win. To this point, Augustana has a 38-37 series lead. USF, which has won five of the past eight games in the series, won the first seven games in the rivalry series by a 215-to-97 points per game margin. In fact, USF won 12-of-13 meetings to open the series with the first Augustana win coming on February 4, 1926 by a 24-20 score. 

USF, which once led the season series, 30-10, won nine of 11 games from 1926 to 1931. A 42-40 win by USF in 1940-41 was the last match up for the schools for 46 years until Augustana took a 96-74 decision on Nov. 20, 1987. The Cougars ended a seven-game losing steak with a 69-62 come-from-behind victory on Dec. 31, 2016 at the Sioux Falls Arena. It was USF's first win at Augustana since a 93-87 victory at the Elmen Center on Nov. 22, 1994. Augustana defeated USF, 80-78 on Feb. 10, 2017 at the Stewart Center. USF's last win against AU at the Stewart Center was a 77-73 decision on Jan.. 5, 2019. USF has won 4-of-6 against AU but the Vikings took a 61-58 decision in the last game played at the Stewart Center on Feb. 21, 2020. 

Series - Game-by-Game

1-23-1922 -- vs. Sioux Falls 30 Augustana 12, Sioux Falls (1-0)

3-9-1922 -- vs. Sioux Falls 55 Augustana 16, Sioux Falls, (2-0)

1-19-1923 – Sioux Falls 37 Augustana 11, @ Augustana (3-0)

2-14-1924 – Sioux Falls 28 Augustana 8 @ USF (4-0)

2-28-1924 – Sioux Falls 24 Augustana 20 @ Augustana (5-0)

12/18-1924 – Sioux Falls 17 Augustana 10 @ US F (6-0)

1/27/1925 – Sioux Falls 24 Augustana 20 @ Augustana (7-0)

2/4/1926 -- Augustana 24 Sioux Falls 20 @ Sioux Falls (7-1)

2/24/1926 -- Sioux Falls 24 Augustana 19 @ Augustana (8-1)

1/12/1927 – Sioux Falls 15 Augustana, 13, @ Augustana (9-1)

1/25/1927 – Sioux Falls 29 Augustana, 19, @ Sioux Falls (10-1)

1/14/1928 – Sioux Falls 40 Augustana 29, at Sioux Falls (11-1)

2/25/1928 – Sioux Falls 32 Augustana 9, @ Sioux Falls (12-1)

1/24/1929 – Augustana 31 Sioux Falls 28 @ Augustana (12-2)

1/28/1929 – Augustana 23 Sioux Falls 20 @ USF (12-3)

1/14/1930 – Sioux Falls 26 Augustana 14, @ Sioux Falls (13-3)

2/4/1930 -- Sioux Falls 31 Augustana 16, @ Sioux Falls (14-3)

1/9/1931 – Sioux Falls 27 Augustana 24, @ Augustana (15-3)

2/9/1931 – Sioux Falls 35 Augustana 26, , @ Sioux Falls (16-3)

1/11/1932 – Augustana 24 Sioux Falls 21, @ Augustana (16-4)

1/27/1932 – Sioux Falls 44 Augustana 28, @ Sioux Falls (17-4)

1/9/1933 – Sioux Falls 31 Augustana 30 @ Augustana (18-4)

2/7/1933 – vs. Sioux Falls 32 Augustana 23, Sioux Falls, att. 1500 (19-4)

2/13/1934 – Augustana 35 Sioux Falls 34 , @ Augustana, att. 2000 (19-5)

2/27/1934 – Sioux Falls 33 Augustana 26, @ Sioux Falls, att. 2500 (20-5)

1/16/1935 – Sioux Falls 31 Augustana 25, @ Augustana, att. 1,500 (21-5)

2/16/1935 -- Sioux Falls 31 Augustana 28, @ Sioux Falls (22-5)

1/18/1936 – Augustana 34 Sioux Falls 28 @ Sioux Falls (22-6)

2/10/1936 – Augustana 27 Sioux Falls 24 , @ Augustana (22-7)

1/18/1937 – Augustana 53 Sioux Falls 38, @ Augustana (22-8)

2/15/1937 – Augustana 42 Sioux Falls 32 @ Sioux Falls (22-9)

12/11/1937 -- vs. Sioux Falls 42 Augustana 37, Sioux Falls (23-9)

1/15/1938 – vs. Sioux Falls 51 Augustana 33, Sioux Falls, att. 1,800 (24-9)

2/17/1938 -- vs. Augustana 39 Sioux Falls 33 (24-10)

1/14/1939 -- vs. Sioux Falls 48 Augustana 22 , Sioux Falls, att. 2,500, (25-10)

2/16/1939 -- Sioux Falls 47 Augustana 31, @ Augustana, att. 1,500 (26-10)

1/19/1940 -- vs. Sioux Falls 46 Augustana 42, Sioux Falls, att. 2,500 (27-10)

2/1/1940 -- vs. Sioux Falls 43 Augustana 38, Sioux Falls (28-10)

2/1/1941 -- vs. Sioux Falls 56 Augustana 38, Sioux Falls, att. 2,000 (29-10)

2/11/1941 -- vs. Sioux Falls 42 Augustana 40, Sioux Falls, att. 1,600) (30-10)

11/20/1987 – Augustana 96 Sioux Falls 74 @ Augustana. att. 2,385 (30-11)

12/3/1988 – Augustana 93 Sioux Falls 79 @ Sioux Falls, att. 1,127 (30-12)

11/28/1989 – Augustana 85 Sioux Falls 72 @ Augustana, att. 1,682 (30-13)

11/27/1990 – Augustana 99 Sioux Falls 72 @ Augustana , att. 2,050) (30-14)

11/26/1991 – Augustana 128 Sioux Falls 104 @ Augustana, att. 2,300 (30-15)

11/13/1992 – Augustana 82 Sioux Falls 80 @ Augustana, att. 2,750 (30-16)

11/23/1993 – Augustana 99 Sioux Falls 92 @ Augustana, att. 3,038 (30-17)

11/22/1994 – Sioux Falls 93 Augustana 87 @ Augustana, att. 2,487 (31-17)

11/21/1995 – Augustana 65 Sioux Falls 62 @ Augustana, att. 3,004 (31-18)

11/30/1996 – Augustana 69 Sioux Falls 63 @ Augustana, att. 2,706 (31-19)

11/28/1997 – Augustana 71 Sioux Falls 62 @ Augustana, att. 2,305 (31-20)

11/28/1998 – Augustana 93 Sioux Falls 91 @ Augustana, att. 2,692 (31-21)

11/27/1999 – AU 85 USF 74, attendance, 2,884, @ Augustana (31-22)

12/10/2007 – Augustana 76 USF 50, attendance, 3,013, SF Arena (31-23)

11/19/2008 – Augustana 75 USF 70, attendance, 3,622, SF Arena, (31-24)

11/18/2009 – Augustana 84 USF 64, attendance, 3,513, SF Arena (31-25)

11/17/2010 – Augustana 69 USF 53, attendance, 2,832, SF Arena (31-26)

11/15/2011 – Augustana 64 USF 63, attendance, 2,813, SF Arena (31-27)

12/8/2012 – Augustana 70 USF 58, attendance, 3,805, Elmen Center (31-28)

2/15-2013 – USF 70 Augustana 58, attendance, 1772, Stewart Center (32-28)

12-7-2013 – Augustana 96 USF 77, attendance, 1,451, Stewart Center (32-29)

1-24-2014 – Augustana 94 USF 53, attendance, 3,713, Elmen Center, (32-30)

1-2-15 -- Augustana 82 USF, 47, attendance, 1,677, Stewart Center (32-31)

2-14-15 -- Augustana 78 USF 61, attendance, 3,672, Sioux Falls Arena (32-32)

1-2-16 -- Augustana 88 USF, 70, attendance, 3,426, Sioux Falls Arena (32-33)

2-13-16 -- Augustana 79 USF 71 attendance, 1,738, Stewart Center (32-34)

2-27-16 -- AU 105 USF 100, attendance, 3,182, Sanford Pentagon (32-35)

12/31/16 -- USF 69 Augustana 62, attendance, 2,765, Sioux Falls Arena (33-35)

2/10/17 -- Augustana 80 USF 78, attendance, 1,738, Stewart Center (33-36)

12/31/17 -- USF 70 AU 61 OT, attendance, 1,738, Stewart Center (34-36)

2/9/18 -- USF 88 Augustana 86, attendance, 3,491, Sioux Falls Arena (35-36)

1/5/19 -- USF 77 Augustana 73, attendance, 1,738, Stewart Center (36-36)

2/22/19 -- Augustana 81 USF 65, attendance, 3,027, Elmen Center (36-37)

1/4/20 -- USF 66 Augustana 59, attendance, 2371 Sanford Pentagon (37-37)

2-21-20 -- Augustana 61 USF, 58, attendance, 1,200, Stewart Center ((37-38)

NABC DII Poll - Feb. 9 

Record, Points, Last Ranking

1. Colorado School of Mines (13), 10-0, 396, 1

2. Northern State (2) (S.D.), 12-0, 383, 2

3. Northwest Missouri State (1), 14-1, 371, 3

4. Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.), 15-1, 351, 4

5. West Texas A&M, 7-1, 330, 5

6. Truman State (Mo.), 12-1, 331, 7

7. Mercyhurst (Pa.), 7-0, 303, 8

8. Colorado Mesa, 13-1, 289, 9

9. Lubbock Christian (Texas), 12-0, 272, 10

10. Alabama Huntsville, 8-1, 251, 11

11. Hillsdale (Mich.), 13-1, 246, 12

12. Findlay (Ohio) 12-2, 212, 6

13.  Texas A&M Kingsville, 13-1, 196, 14

14. Point Loma (Calif.), 3-0, 187, 13

15. Dallas Baptist (Texas), 12-2, 180, 15

16.  Washburn (Kan.), 12-3, 153, 17

17. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.), 2-0, 143, 19

18. Northwest Nazarene, 8-1, 94, 23

19. Lee (Tenn.), 9-2, 91, 18

20. Queens (N.C.), 9-4, 87, 16

21. Flagler, 8-2, 61, NR

22. Charleston (W. Va.), 7-2, , 51, NR

23. West Liberty (W. Va.), 7-3, 46, NR

24. Gannon (Pa.), 4-0, 31, NR

25. Valdosta State 10-4, 28, 20
 

Others receiving votes:  Sioux Falls, 27; Fairmont State (W. Va.), 21; Lenoir Rhyne (NC), 20; Dominican (NY), 16; Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 11; Southern Indiana, 7; Glenville State (W. Va.), 6; St. Edwards (Texas), 6; Michigan Tech, 5; Southern Arkansas, 5; Union (Tenn.), 5; Oklahoma Baptist, 4; and Georgia College, 2.