ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team collected their second-straight double-digit home win on Wednesday, defeating the visiting Elmhurst Bluejays by a score of 86-67 from inside the Carver Center.

Elmhurst notched the first six points of the game, holding the Vikings without a field goal for nearly the first three minutes. The offense quickly picked up for Augustana, using a 19-4 over the next four minutes to push the differential to nine at 19-10, the largest lead for either team in the opening half. The Bluejays slowly chipped away until finally flipping the score in their favor at the five-minute mark. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch, resulting in a 39-39 tie after 20 minutes of action. Seven different Vikings reached the scoring column in the first half, led by nine points from Tyler Knuth.

Almost 90 seconds into the second frame, Matt Hanushewsky hit a three-pointer for Augustana to break the tie and put the Vikings in front once and for all. Through the first six minutes of play, Augie's lead hovered between two and six points before finally pushing it out to double figures at the 10:56 mark. The Bluejays converted two shots from the free-throw line to dip it back into single digits, but it would be the last time as the Vikings strung together a 20-8 run over the course of the next seven minutes. The two teams emptied their benches with Augustana leading 83-63, eventually resulting in the 19-point win for the Vikings. 

Four different players for Augustana reached double digits in scoring, led by 19 from Anthony Cooper, who hit 6-7 shots and 5-6 from behind the arc. Matt Hawkins was also efficient shooting the ball, ending 6-8 from the field with 15 points. Evan Ambrose tallied 13 points and Daniel Carr had 11 to help lead the offensive efforts.

With the win, the Vikings improve to 5-12 overall and 3-5 in the CCIW. The team will hit the road for the next contest on Saturday, January 21 when they visit the Millikin Big Blue. Start time is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. from Decatur, Ill.