ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team will face CCIW opponents from here on out, beginning with a home game on Wednesday, January 8 against the Millikin Big Blue.

Augustana is 8-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference play, recently falling in its last non-conference matchup of the year on New Year's Eve against No. 17 ranked Wisconsin Lutheran. The Warriors jumped out to the early advantage and held a lead for the first 15 minutes of the contest, seeing its cushion grow to as many as nine at one point. The Vikings inched closer, using an 18-7 scoring run to take their first lead at 24-22 following a made three-pointer by Evan Ambrose. Augie remained out in front through the end of the first half, fighting off a late 5-2 spurt by the Warriors to take a 30-28 advantage into the break. The Vikings shot 43 percent in the first 20 minutes of action despite connecting on just one three-pointer in eight tries.

The two teams traded baskets to begin the second, with Staishaun Kelley notching a pair of layups in the paint to keep the Vikings out ahead for the time being. Wisconsin Lutheran earned the lead back for good around the 15-minute mark and eventually stretched it out to double figures at 46-36 with 10:45 to go. The Vikings did not go away, cutting the 10-point deficit in half six minutes later at 57-52, but that was as close as the team got the rest of the way as the Warriors countered with four straight points to pull away. Late free throws moved the final margin out to 14 at 68-54. Kelley and Tyler Knuth led Augustana with 10 points apiece, while Ray Maurchie hauled in 11 rebounds.

Millikin enters Wednesday with an identical 8-4 record and is 2-1 in the CCIW. The Big Blue have won their last four outings, recently picking up a 81-66 home win over Carroll this past Saturday. Millikin shot lights out in the win, using a 52 percent first-half effort to lead by double figures after 20 minutes of action. The team followed that up shooting 74 percent in the second half to offset an efficient offensive half by the Pioneers. A total of nine Millikin players scored in the game, with three cracking double figures. Lane Thomann led the way with 20 points and is the team leader in scoring this season at 15.3 points per game on 49 percent shooting. The Big Blue are 2-3 on the road this season, with the last game coming December 29 at Rhodes, resulting in a 67-59 win for Millikin. The Big Blue have not lost since December 7.

Wednesday will be the 165th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Augustana leading the series 105-59. The Vikings swept the Big Blue a season ago and have won four of the last five encounters. 

Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.