ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team dropped a tough battle to the Dubuque Spartans on Saturday by a score of 88-82.

Both teams traded points in the opening quarter until the visitors pulled ahead by 10. The Vikings collected eight consecutive points with a three-point shot by Dom Rhoden, moving the score to 14-12. Dubuque created a seven-point differential, with Augie getting within two points four different times until evening the game at 31 after a steal and layup by Staishaun Kelley. The Spartans regained the lead with Augie closing the gap to just one off successful shots by Cam Atkinson, Kelley, and Dani Romero. Marieon Anderson had two shots at the charity line to draw the score even once more at 41 apiece. Anderson notched a layup in the paint to close the first half with Dubuque leading 45-43.

Returning to the court, the Spartans pushed the gap to five before Atkinson collected a three-pointer to get within two. The visitors held the advantage and got as far as six, but Anderson and Dom Rhoden squeezed the gap to two with back-to-back shots. Andre Klaver banked back-to-back shots to draw the score even at 56, with just under 14 minutes of play. The Vikings saw their first lead of the night after a Klaver three-point shot before Dubquue moved the game to a 59-point deadlock. The teams drew even three more times, with Augie regaining the lead twice before free throws put the Spartans ahead by two. Atikson pushed the game to 69-69 before Dubuque collected three consecutive points to overtake the advantage. With 3:26 remaining, Jake Williems knocked down a three-pointer to regain the lead for the Vikings at 79-77. Anderson pushed the lead to three with a successful shot at the charity stripe, but the Spartans notched five consecutive points to overtake Augie. Willems tallied a jump shot to close the differential to two, but four attempts at the free throw line closed the game with a score of 88-82.

Five of the nine scorers for Augie clinched double-digits, with Anderson leading with 22 points and six rebounds. Klaver followed with 15 points, while Atkinson tallied 12 points and Willems had 11. Romero and Klaver had five assists respectively, and Klaver grabbed seven shots off the glass.

With the loss, Augie moves to 3-1 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at UW-Platteville.