NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will open CCIW play on Wednesday, November 29 when they travel to take on the North Central Cardinals.

The Vikings enter CCIW action with a 1-5 record, recently falling in a defensive battle to UW-Stevens Point by a score of 55-41 on Sunday. Both defenses were on display early in the opening half as the teams each found themselves with just seven points scored after seven minutes of action. The Pointers broke the deadlock and created separation from the Vikings with the game's next nine points, eventually taking a 10-point advantage of 29-19 into the halftime break. Augustana got within five at 18-13, but a quick 9-2 run from the Pointers allowed them to keep their distance late in the half. The Vikings held Stevens Point to just 33 percent shooting through the first 20 minutes, but connected on just 27 percent of their looks and went without a three in seven looks.

After Stevens Point grabbed the first basket of the second half and pushed the margin out to its largest, Augie stormed back with seven straight points, which included baskets from three different players. The visitors answered with another big scoring run, this time stringing together eight in a row that spanned over the course of six minutes. Around the eight-minute mark, Eli Aldana scored five straight for Augustana to bring the team within seven points, but that was the closest the Vikings got the rest of the way as Stevens Point slowly stretched its cushion back out to double figures. The Pointers finished the contest 36 percent from the field, while Augie hit just 30 percent. The Vikings were led by Colton Gillingham with 10 points, while three others had seven.

North Central enters Wednesday with a 1-4 overall record and is currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak. The Cardinals were recently defeated last Tuesday, falling on the road to Benedictine by a score of 67-60. North Central's lone victory this season came in California, a 97-87 road victory over La Verne on November 11. The Cardinals boast three players averaging double figures in points, led by Ethan Helwig at 12.6 per contest.

Wednesday will be the 180th meeting between the two programs, with the Vikings leading the all-time series 108-71. The two teams split their meetings last season, each winning on the other's home court. Augie was victorious in Naperville by a score of 75-74 to snap a three-game losing skid versus North Central.

Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.