KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team saw its season come to an end in the CCIW Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, falling to the Carthage Firebirds by a score of 64-60.

Augie struggled offensively in the opening half, mustering 19 points on just 18 percent shooting through the first 20 minutes of action. After Matt Hawkins made the first basket of the game, neither team eclipsed 10 points until a jumper by Colton Gillingham put the Vikings up 11-8 around the 10-minute mark. From there, the Firebirds rattled off a 17-2 scoring run over the course of the next five minutes to make it 25-13. Augie closed the half with a 6-4 margin to remain within 10 points at the break. The Vikings held Carthage to 34 percent (11-32) shooting in the first.

Through the first three minutes of the second half, the Firebirds extended their cushion to as many as 14 on two separate occasions. Augustana slowly inched closer, bringing it under double figures moments later. Trailing 40-31, the Vikings used a quick 6-0 spurt to pull within three and eventually tied the game at 41 on a Gillingham layup with 10:40 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the span of the next five minutes, with Carthage seeing a lead grow back out to five before Augie grabbed its first lead of the half on a three-pointer from Hawkins with 5:21 to go. Another tie ensued at 55 points apiece, but a pair of free throws for the Firebirds put the home team up for good as they knocked down 7-9 from the charity stripe in the final two-and-a-half minutes. Carthage closed the game on a 9-5 run to seal the four-point win.

Augustana shot 42 percent in the second half to help fuel its comeback and was led by Tyler Knuth with 13 points and Hawkins and Evan Ambrose each with 10. 

With the loss, the Vikings conclude the 2023-24 season with a 9-17 record and qualified for the CCIW Tournament for the 18th time in the last 19 years.