SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University scored the go-ahead field goal with 1:26 remaining and then made two free throws with three seconds remaining to earn a 62-59 victory over No. 24 ranked Southwest Minnesota State University in NSIC men's college basketball on Thursday night inside the Elmen Center.
 
SMSU, which drops to 9-3 overall, 4-2 NSIC, took a 59-58 lead on a Jakob Braaten field goal with 1:50 left, but AU answered with an Akoi Akoi go-ahead basket.
 
SMSU would have several chances to regain the lead, but three missed shots and a turnover in the final 70 seconds proved too much to overcome.
 
Mekhi Shaw led SMSU tying a career-high with 17 points on 7 of 10 shooting with three 3-pointers. Mason Lund added 10 points and was the only other Mustang to score in double figures. Dunwa Omot and Braaten both chipped in with nine points as Omot hit three 3-pointers.
 
AU (4-8, 1-5 NSIC) was led by Tanner Te Slaa's 18 points and four 3-pointers. The Vikings connected on a season-high 11 3-pointers in 28 attempts.
 
SMSU closed the game shooting 48 percent (22 of 46) with nine 3-pointers in 20 attempts, but the Mustangs committed a season-high 15 turnovers. The Vikings finished with nine turnovers and held a 24-8 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
 
SMSU held a 33-23 rebound advantage with Braaten leading the way with nine rebounds.
 
AU started the game strong with three 3-pointers and forcing SMSU into five turnovers in building a 13-2 lead just four minutes into the game.
 
AU would take its largest lead of the half at 19-7 and maintained a 26-15 advantage midway through the half before SMSU rallied to take its first lead of the game.
 
Steven Kramer started a 12-0 Mustang run with a field goal that was capped four minutes later by a Caleb Schlaak layup off a pass from Mekhi Shaw with 5:38 remaining to put SMSU in the lead at 27-26. Following a field by the Vikings, Shaw answered by drilling a 3-pointer to give the Mustangs a 30-28 advantage with 4:52 remaining. Unfortunately, SMSU was held scoreless for the remainder of the half with AU rallying to take a 32-30 lead into halftime.
 
SMSU's offensive struggles continued into the second half before Braaten converted a three-point play with 17:35 remaining to cut the AU lead to 35-33. The field goal snapped a seven-minute scoring drought for the Mustangs.
 
AU would continue to build on the lead and eventually push the advantage to 51-40 midway through the half.
 
SMSU would answer back as Kramer drilled a 3-pointer with just over nine minutes remaining to spark a 13-3 run to pull the Mustangs to within 54-53 following a Shaw 3-pointer.
 
AU held a 58-55 lead with 2:54 remaining before Lund and Braaten scored on consecutive possessions to give SMSU its first lead of the second half. The lead was short-lived as Akoi answered on the next Viking possession to regain the lead.
 
SMSU returns to action on Saturday hosting the University of Sioux Falls with game time slated for 4 p.m.