SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Jake Kettner scored 15 points and Austin Olson added a career-best 11 points but the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball Team (11-13, 7-11 NSIC) dropped a 74-54 decision to city rival Augustana (22-2, 16-2 NSIC) on Senior Night on Thursday at the Stewart Center before 1,325 in attendance.

For a half, the Cougars battled No. 5 ranked Augustana, which improved to 16-2 overall in the league. The Cougars dropped to 7-11 in the NSIC and sit in seventh place in the South Division. The Cougars will conclude the regular season against Wayne State at 5:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 19.

Down two starters, the Cougars trailed just 41-37 at halftime before the Vikings had a 33-to-17 advantage in the second half to pull away and pick up their second win of the season against USF. They lead the all-time series, 42-37.

USF was led by Kenner, who had his seventh double-digit scoring game with 15 points. The freshman guard from New Ulm, Minn., made 6-of-12 field goals, including a pair of three-point shots in five attempts. He also had five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in a solid all-around game.

Redshirt freshman guard Austin Olson had his first-career double-digit scoring game with 11 points. He had a career-best three triples on seven attempts while grabbing a rebound in his 18 plus minutes on the floor.

Forward Marko Coudreau, who was honored in a pre-game Senior Night ceremony with fellow seniors Matt Cartwright and Austin Slater, had nine points and a rebound in his final appearance at the Stewart Center. Austin Slater scored six points and had a personal-best 19 rebounds (17, SMSU, 11-25-17), which was the most since his freshman season at USF. Slater had his 15^th double-figure rebound game and had a steal in 37 minutes on the floor during his last home appearance. His rebound total is the most at USF since Teachloach Pal at 19 on Feb. 21, 2021, almost a year ago. For Slater, he now has 682 career rebounds which ranks 11^th in school history.  Cartwright added seven points, two rebounds and two steals as he now has 1,232 career points and 211 three-pointers in his career.


The Cougars finished 20-of-61 for 32.8 percent from the field, including 8-of-29 for 27.6 percent from three-point range. The Cougars, which lost the rebound battle, 39-34, also made 6-of-9 free throws.

The Vikings, which had 31 points and 10 rebounds from Tyler Riemersma, had a huge advantage in the lane. AU had a 38-to-12 margin with points in the paint and held a 13-to-2 margin in fast-break points. While losing the battle on the glass, USF had a 13-to-7 margin in second chance points and a 13-to-5 margin in points off turnovers.

AU came into the game one of the league's best shooting teams and that continued against USF. They were 29-of-56 form the field for 51.8 percent and made 5-of-13 from three-point range. AU also had 13 points from Akoi and 11 by Adam Dykman.

Scoring Summary –
In opening a four-point halftime lead, the Vikings hit 16-of-31 field goals for 51.6 percent, including 3-of-8 from three-point range. USF was 14-of-31 for 45.2 percent and also had 3-of-9 from the three-point line.

After the teams battled to a 6-6 tie, AU had a 15-4 run to take a 21-10 lead at the 14:10 mark on a three-pointer from Riemersma. The Vikings led 30-18 with 8:08 to play before the Cougars made a run to cut the lead to four by halftime. Olson's basket at the 6:42 mark but the lead to 31-24 and a basket from Jack Thompson, who had six points, four rebounds and four assists on the night, cut the deficit to 33-28 with 4:33 on the clock. USF drew within three on a three-pointer by Kettner (34-31) and drew within one at 34-33 (2:11) when Thompson scored on a second chance basket just outside the paint. With 46 seconds left, Kettner again connected on a floating jumper outside the paint as the Cougars were within, 39-37. After a basket by AU's Isaac Fink, who had six points and six rebounds, the Vikings took the 41-37 lead to halftime.

The game changed in the open 10 minutes of the second half as USF hit on just 2-of-16 field goals. As a result, AU pushed the lead to 49-37 at the 16:39 mark. USF answered with a three from Kettner and trailed just 49-43 with 14:33 to play. Then, the Vikings had a 16-0 run to open a 65-43 advantage with 10 minutes to play. During that run, USF had a scoring drought of more than six minutes before Olson's three with 8>24 left cut the deficit to 19 (65-46). The Cougars drew within 16 at 67-51 on another three by Olson at the 4:22 mark but drew no closer.