KENOSHA, Wis. -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team saw its comeback attempt fall short on Saturday in a 77-69 loss to the Carthage Firebirds.

Carthage began the game with seven of the first nine points scored and quickly saw a double-digit lead approaching the halfway point of the opening period. The Firebirds continued their hot shooting, building a lead of as many as 13 before a three-pointer by Nicholas Giliberto halted the momentum and brought the deficit back into single digits. Carthage closed the first 20 minutes of play with a pair of 14-point leads, but a last-second three by Matt Hawkins made it a 41-30 lead for the home team entering the halftime break. 

The differential remained around the 10-point mark as the two teams went back and forth for the first eight minutes of the second half. A layup by Giliberto inched Augie within six, the closest margin of the half, but the lead for the Firebirds quickly moved back out to 12 with around 10 minutes to play. Over the span of the ensuing five minutes, the Vikings fought back and brought the game within a possession at 64-62 thanks to 14 straight points by Tyler Knuth. A made jumper and a pair of free throws created some space for the Firebirds, but a triple by Knuth kept Augustana hanging around and within one with under three minutes remaining. The made three by Knuth proved to be the final made shot for the Vikings to close out the game as Carthage strung together successful trips to the free throw line and consecutive defensive stops to seal the 77-69 victory.

Knuth finished with a career-high 30 points to lead the Vikings. Hawkins also added double figures with 11, while Chase Larsen hauled in 13 rebounds. Each team made 22 field goals on the afternoon, but the Firebirds connected on 47 percent of their looks compared to the Vikings' 33 percent clip. Carthage held the final advantage at the free throw line 24-17.

With the loss, Augie drops to 10-8 on the year and 3-6 in the CCIW. The team will return home to battle North Park on Wednesday.