CHICAGO, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will continue CCIW play on Saturday, January 11 when they visit the North Park Vikings.

Augustana sits at 8-5 on the season and 1-3 in the conference, recently dropping a home battle with Millikin on Wednesday by a score of 67-62. Augustana jumped out to the quick lead following a jumper by Evan Ambrose on the opening possession and remained out in front through the end of the first half. Leading 12-11, the Vikings rattled off 10 points to secured their first double-digit advantage at 22-11, fueled by baskets by four different players during that span. The two teams played even at 11 points apiece the rest of the way and Augie took a 33-22 cushion into the halftime break.

The two teams traded scores to begin the second, seeing the margin move in and out of double figures for the first four minutes. Millikin inched closer with an 8-0 run, but Augie countered with back-to-back layups by Staishaun Kelley to extend the differential back out to seven. After Augie stretched the lead to eight, the visitors strung together an 11-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 49-48 with four minutes remaining. A Tyler Knuth bucket put the Vikings back out in front, but it was the last lead the team saw. The Big Blue hit all 14 free throw attempts the rest of the way to hold off a late Augie surge and secure the five-point victory. Ambrose led Augustana with 14 points, followed by Kelley with 13 and Knuth with 10.

North Park enters with a 9-5 overall mark and 4-1 record in the CCIW. The Vikings recently saw their four-game conference winning streak come to an end on Wednesday, falling at home to Illinois Wesleyan by a final of 80-69. The Titans led by six at half before out-scoring North Park 46-41 in the final 20 minutes. Three players for the Vikings reached double figures in the loss, led by 19 from Rico Powell to go with a pair of double-digit scorers off the bench. Powell is the team leader in points per game this season at just under 14, the only player above 10. North Park has eight others scoring at least five or more per outing. The Vikings are 5-2 on their home court this season. 

Augie is 87-44 all-time over North Park. Each team won on the other's home court a season ago, with Augustana taking the game in Chicago in overtime by a score of 70-69.

Start time is scheduled for 4:15 p.m.