BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team dropped a conference road battle Saturday night to the first-place Illinois Wesleyan Titans, falling by a score of 64-60.

The two teams traded baskets to begin the game before the Titans snagged the game's first multi-possession lead at 12-7 nine minutes in. Augie responded with a 9-0 scoring run over the span of the next four-plus minutes to claim the advantage before a quick 5-0 spurt from the home team moved it back in their favor. The two squads continued to go back and forth for the remainder of the opening half, with neither team holding a margin of greater than five points. A three-pointer from Zach Anderson and a late basket from Mike Hamilton pulled the Vikings within two at the break. Anderson had nine of his 11 points in the first half on three made three-pointers.

Augustana hung around a single possession for the first two minutes of the second half, but Illinois Wesleyan stretched its cushion out to the largest differential of the game of 11 with 14 minutes remaining. The Vikings fought back, facing multiple double-digit holes before cutting it down to five on two separate occasions. With four minutes remaining, Augie got closer on an Evan Ambrose jumper, but again the Titans stretched their separation back out to five for the first of three more two-possession leads down the stretch. The Vikings made it back to a single possession several instances, with the latest coming on a three from Dani Romero with 10 seconds left to bring them within two, but the Titans sealed the game with two made free throws to bring the game to its final 64-60 score.  

Each team made 22 shots in the game, with the Vikings slightly out-converting the Titans 42 percent to 40. Illinois Wesleyan held the advantage at the free throw line, knocking down 13 of their 21 attempts, while Augustana hit just 5-6. Anderson finished with a team high 11 points to lead the Vikings, while Chase Larsen notched 10 points. Hamilton ended his night with eight points and seven boards.

With the loss, Augie drops to 6-14 on the season and 3-8 in the CCIW. The team will remain on the road for their next contest on Wednesday at Wheaton.