Box Score ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team opened its 2025–26 campaign with a strong showing on Friday night, defeating Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors 90–73 inside the Carver Center.

Augustana started fast, as Staishaun Kelley scored five of the Vikings' first six points. Tied at eight apiece, the Warriors would jump out 15-10 but Dom Rhoden would bury a three and Jake Willems followed with a transition dunk to tie the game at 15–15. Momentum would continue to swing throughout the first period, with the teams tied a 20 with 9:18 to play. A pair of threes from Willems and Ray Maurchie would put the Vikings ahead 26-24. A three-pointer from the Warriors would put them ahead 32-30 before Maurchie would convert a transition layup to tie it back up. With 3:50 to play, the Vikings would get hot behind the arc as Cam Atkinson, Willems, and Ethan Andre would hit threes in four Vikings' possessions to take a 41-36 lead. Wisconsin Lutheran closed the half strong with a three and pair of free throws to even the score at 41–41 heading into the locker room.

The Vikings shot 46.7 percent in the first half and connected on six three-pointers while also converting 12 points in the paint compared to the Warriors' eight in the paint.

In the second half, after both teams battled to a 45-45 lock, Augustana would jump out behind inside scoring from Marieon Anderson and a Dani Romero and-one layup made it 50–45. Andre Klaver's pair of free throws would keep the Vikings in front following a Warrior three pointer. The Vikings continued to push tempo behind Kelley, as a pair of free throws, drilling a pull-up jumper, and another bucket in the paint would give Augie a six-point cushion, 58-52. Romero would get one to drop in the paint to push it to eight, Kelley and Anderson would have their way in the paint, pushing the lead to 10 at 64-54.

The Warriors would close the lead to as little as four points behind Austin Wagner, however Klaver would get the deep ball to go and Willems would follow-up with a tip in to make it 74-65. Down the stretch, the Vikings would convert free throws as Maurchie and Rhoden would go back-to-back at the stripe to make it an 11-point game. An Atkinson three ball would fall with 4:03 to go to make the lead 12, from there the Vikings never let up as the Warriors would fail to convert never coming within less than 10 as Augustana would seal the 90–73 victory.

Augustana finished the night shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three, adding an 18-for-27 mark at the free-throw line. The Vikings produced a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures and 40 total points in the paint. Kelley led the way scoring with 16 points, adding two rebounds and a steal. Klaver followed with 15 points, five boards, and three assists. Willems added 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including two triples while also getting a block at the rim. Atkinson stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Maurchie held his own in the paint for 10 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks to notch a double-double. Romero added eight points on an efficient 3-for-5 shooting, while snagging five rebounds and dishing five assists. 

The Vikings tallied 14 steals, 18 second-chance points, and 33 bench points while forcing 22 turnovers to generate 21 points on the other end.

Augustana looks to improve on their 1-0 record as they travel to St. Paul, Minn., to take on Bethel on Friday, Nov.14 and Hamline on Sunday, Nov. 16.