ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will be back at home on Wednesday, January 29 when they take on the North Park Vikings inside the Carver Center.

Augie is 10-8 on the year and 3-6 in the CCIW. The team is coming off a 77-69 road loss at Carthage on Saturday, nearly pulling off a double-digit second half comeback. After trailing by 11 at the 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 Nicholas 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.

North Park enters with a 13-5 overall record and 8-1 mark in the CCIW, currently in a three-way tie for first place. The Vikings have won four in a row, including a 69-61 victory over Millikin on the road this past Saturday in their last time out. The two teams played to an even opening 20 minutes, but North Park out-scored the Big Blue by eight in the second half to pull away for the victory. Three players notched double-digit points in the win for North Park, led by reigning CCIW Player of the Week Rico Powell with 20 on 50 percent shooting. Powell leads the Vikings in scoring this season at 15.6 points per outing. On the year, North Park features a 6-3 record away from home and has won its last three road contests.

Augustana is 87-45 all-time against North Park, but has dropped four of the last five meetings. North Park defeated Augie earlier this season in Chicago by a score of 87-73. Knuth led all scorers with 25 points.

Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.