BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will play its third road game against a ranked opponent this season when they take on the No. 5  Illinois Wesleyan Titans on Wednesday, January 22.

Augustana enters with a 10-6 overall record and 3-4 mark in the CCIW after winning both games last week. In the team's most recent matchup vs. Carroll on Saturday, the Vikings erased a double-digit deficit in the second half to take down the Pioneers in overtime by a score of 85-77. After trailing by eight at half, Augustana inched closer to kick off the second before a three-pointer by Chase Larsen capped off a 6-0 scoring spurt to even the game at 36 apiece. Later in the half, Carroll strung together a big scoring run, this time pushing its lead out to double figures at 64-53. The Vikings fought back, using nine straight points to pull within two until a three by Tyler Knuth reclaimed the lead for Augie with three minutes remaining. It was the first of two big threes for Knuth down the stretch, later hitting another with 55 seconds showing to again give the Vikings a two-point lead at 72-70. Following a pair of free throws by Mike Hamilton to extend the game to 74-71, the Pioneers connected on a corner three with just two seconds to spare to push the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Augie struck first with an Evan Ambrose three-pointer and never trailed the rest of the way. Carroll responded with a free throw on the ensuing possession, but points from Knuth and another jumper by Ambrose extended the lead out to six. Augustana held the visitors without a made basket in the five minutes of overtime, running away with the eight-point win. Knuth and Ambrose led the Vikings with 17 points apiece, while Chase Larsen notched a double double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Both teams shot under 40 percent, with the Vikings knocking down 25 of their free throw attempts for a 76 percent clip. Augie out-rebounded the Pioneers 56-37.

Illinois Wesleyan currently sits with a 14-2 overall record and is 6-1 in league play. The Titans, winners of four in a row, are up to No. 5 in the latest D3hoops top 25 poll after notching a pair of wins last week over North Central and Millikin. Wednesday will be the first game for the Titans in a week, recently defeating the Big Blue on the road last Wednesday by a score of 77-60. After the two teams played to an even 36-36 deadlock through the first 20 minutes, the Titans ran away with the game in the second half, holding the Big Blue to just five points across a nine-minute span to grab their largest lead of the night. Five different players scored in double figures in the win for Illinois Wesleyan, led by Mason Funk's 16 points and Karlo Colak's 14 off the bench. Nick Roper, the team's leading scorer at just under 16 per contest, also added 12.

The Titans are 5-1 on their home court this season, with the most recent outing resulting in a 99-91 triple overtime victory over North Central on January 11. The lone loss came in conference play vs. Carthage, a 77-68 victory for the Firebirds. Augie is 5-4 on the road this season.

Wednesday will be the 181st all-time meeting between the two programs, with the Titans leading the series 101-79. Illinois Wesleyan won both meetings last season, including a 64-60 victory at home in the most recent encounter, and has won seven of the last eight. The Vikings will be seeking their first win in Bloomington since 2020.

Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.