ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will return to the Carver Center to face the Carthage Firebirds on Saturday, February 3 as they begin a stretch of three straight games at home.

Augustana currently sits at 6-15 on the season with a 3-9 mark in CCIW action. The team was recently defeated by the Wheaton Thunder on Wednesday in overtime, falling by a score of 81-73. After a back-and-forth opening half, Augustana held on to a slim lead before the second half's first tie at 38-38. The teams continued to alternate baskets, drawing even three more times as the second half reached its halfway point. Over the course of the next five minutes, neither team saw a lead of more than four until Wheaton grew theirs out to six with 4:05 remaining. The Vikings fought back, scoring six of the game's next seven points to draw even at 66 once again. A layup from the Thunder with 46 seconds left put them out in front, but a made shot from Cooper evened the score before a defensive stop from the Vikings sent the game to overtime.

A Cooper three-pointer gave the Vikings the first lead of the extra session, an advantage they held for the next two minutes. Wheaton deadlocked the game at 71 with the next basket of the frame before jumping out in front moments later. After a pair of free throws from Cooper to bring the score to 73-all, the Thunder notched the final eight points of the game to secure the victory. Cooper and Tyler Knuth led the Vikings each with 16 points, while Romero and Chase Larsen also had double figures with 12 and 11 points. Larsen also added 14 rebounds.

Carthage enters Saturday with a 14-6 overall record and 8-3 mark in conference. The Firebirds recently saw their three-game win streak come to an end, falling to conference rival Carroll by a score of 89-83 on Wednesday. Four different players for Carthage cracked double figures in the loss, including two players with at least 20. The Firebirds shot 54 percent for the game, but allowed 56 percent to Carroll and had a -12 differential at the free-throw line. On the season, Carthage has five players averaging at least 10 points and is led by Antuan Nesbitt's 15.1 points per game mark. The Firebirds are 5-4 on the road this season.

Augustana leads the all-time series 124-60, but has dropped the last three meetings against Carthage. The Firebirds were victorious in their earlier-season meeting in Kenosha, winning by a score of 85-79. Knuth led Augie with 20 points. 

Start time on Saturday is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.