DECATUR, Ill. -- A late second-half comeback fell short for the Augustana Vikings men's basketball team on Saturday, dropping a road contest at the Millikin Big Blue by a final of 79-73.

Augie quickly jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening five minutes, seeing a jumper from Matt Hanushewsky cushion their advantage to 17-7 at the 14:55 mark. The home team slowly climbed back, eventually grabbing a lead of 23-21 with just under seven minutes showing in the opening frame. The teams continued to battle back-and-forth, until the Vikings used a 6-1 scoring burst in the final minutes to go back out in front at halftime at a score of 33-31. The Vikings shot over 60 percent through the first 20 minutes, making three more shots than the Big Blue. Millikin saw two more threes and two additional free throws go in to help make up for the difference.

Despite an efficient first half both ways, each team's offense kept the pace in the second half, both shooting 50 percent or better the rest of the way. After an Anthony Cooper three to put the Vikings up one at 48-47, the Big Blue went on a three-point shooting barrage, flipping a one-point deficit into a 13-point cushion over the span of three minutes. The Vikings continued to see shots fall, slowly chipping away at the deficit until cutting it to one possession at 73-70. 

A steal and a lay-up from Tyler Knuth brought the Vikings within a point at the 2:17, but it was the last field goal Augie would see as Millikin hit back-to-back jumpers before icing it with two made free throws.

Four different Vikings cracked double digits in scoring, led by Knuth's 22 points on 9-11 shooting. Matt Hawkins tallied 15 points thanks to a big second half, while Hanushewsky and Daniel Carr added 11 and 10 points. 

With the loss, Augustana drops to 5-13 overall and 3-6 in the CCIW. The team will remain on the road for their next contest on Wednesday, January 25 when they visit the North Central Cardinals. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Naperville, Ill.