SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State men's basketball team fell 69-61 to the Augustana Vikings on Thursday night inside the Sanford Pentagon. 
 
The loss moves the Mustangs to 15-11 overall and 11-10 in NSIC action, while the Vikings, 15-12 overall and 11-10 NSIC, now move into a tie for fourth place with SMSU in the NSIC South. 
 
Augustana earned its 10^th consecutive victory in the series and has now won six in a row in Sioux Falls. 
 
The Mustangs shot 47.4 percent (27 of 57) from the field and 5 of 20 from deep while making both free throws attempted. The Vikings shot 46.3 percent (25 of 54) from the field and 9 of 20 from deep while sinking all 10 of the free throws they attempted. 
 
The turnover battle proved to be a difference in the game, as SMSU committed 16 turnovers to the 12 of Augustana, but the Vikings outscored the Mustangs 24-8 off turnovers. 
 
Jake Phipps scored 17 points on 8 of 11 shooting and grabbed six rebounds to lead SMSU. He also added a team-high two blocks. Joining him in double figures was Anthony Costello, who scored 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three, and grabbed four rebounds, and Cliff McCray, who scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds. Dunwa Omot netted eight points, adding three rebounds and four assists, and Jakob Braaten tallied six points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. 
 
 
The Vikings scored five of the game's first seven points to open the game. After back-and-forth play brought the score to 20-17 in favor of the Vikings, AU took control, scoring the next seven points, and then after a Costello three-pointer, scored five more points to grow its lead to 32-20 with 2:59 left in the first half. 
 
Phipps and Braaten each hit layups to cut its deficit to eight points with 2:07 before halftime, but the next score would come just before the buzzer, as an Augustana jumper gave the Vikings a 34-24 lead into the locker rooms. 
 
With AU leading 44-30 with 15:55 left in the game, the Mustangs galloped back, ripping off a 9-0 run to get within five at 44-39 with 12:50 to play. 
 
AU piled its lead right back up, scoring the next six points and 14 of the next 18 points to take a 58-43 lead with 7:49 remaining. 
 
Each team traded points until the 5:46 mark, starting an 8-0 SMSU run to get back within single digits at 63-56 with 4:00 left. 
 
SMSU saw a pair of chances to get within two possessions, but back-to-back turnovers and a pair of AU free throws ended the run and put the Vikings ahead 65-56 with 2:26 left. 
 
Five of the next seven points went to the Mustangs, getting them within six at 67-61, but AU would knock down a pair of free throws with 27.9 seconds to play, bringing the game to its final score. 
 
The Mustangs close the regular season on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m., against Wayne State inside the R/A Facility.