MARSHALL, Minn. – Augustana scored 49 second half points to erase a six-point halftime deficit and defeat No. 9/13 Southwest Minnesota State, 85-75, in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball on Thursday night.
 
The loss snapped SMSU's eight-game winning streak and complete a regular season sweep for the Vikings over the Mustangs. Augustana, now 10-11 overall, 7-8 NSIC, handed SMSU its last loss back in December.
 
SMSU, still in sole possession of first place in the NSIC, falls to 17-4 overall, 12-3 NSIC. AU has defeated SMSU nine straight times dating back to the 2013-14 season.
 
AU's Jack Hastreiter had a career-game to pace the Vikings, scoring a career-high 24 points on 8 of 9 shooting, including a perfect 7 for 7 from 3-point range. His previous career-high was 12 points. Akoi Akoi had a big game as well with 24 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
 
SMSU's Dunwa Omot, who missed the previous five games with an injury, returned in a big way pouring in 23 points with five 3-pointers. Jakob Braaten added 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
AU finished the game shooting 46 percent (26 of 56) from the field with 12 3-pointers. The Vikings were strong at the free throw line making 21 of 25 and held a 37-31 rebound advantage.
 
SMSU, which led 42-36 at halftime and led by nine with 15 minutes remaining in the game, was limited to 40 percent shooting in the second half and finished the game shooting 46 percent (27 of 59).
 
SMSU returns to the road on Saturday taking on the University of Sioux Falls with tip-off slated for 3:30 p.m.