ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team welcomes the Wheaton Thunder on Wednesday, Dec. 3, for their CCIW opener in the Carver Center. 

The Vikings sit at 3-3 on the season and return to action after falling to the No. 17 UW-Oshkosh Titans this past weekend by a score of 84-77. In the game, the Titans found the early advantage with a majority of their points coming from behind the three-point arch. Returning from the halftime break, Augie outscored UW-Oshkosh 42-34, with Ray Maurchie closing the differential to six after a shot from the charity line. The team saw this again after a layup by Dom Rhoden before Marieon Anderson pulled within five with nine seconds remaining, but the Titans sealed the victory. 

Four Vikings notched double-digit points, with Anderson and Andre Klaver leading with 11 points. Maurchie and Dani Romero followed with 10, while Maurchie grabbed eight shots off the glass. 

Wheaton enters the contest with a 5-2 record after defeating Manchester by a score of 95-88 a week ago. The Thunder led for the majority of the tightly contested first half before a late basket put their opponents ahead 49-48. The score was tied 12 times in the second half until Wheaton found the lead after a pair of free throws, and they never gave up the lead in the final four minutes. Preseason All-American Soren Richardson led the team with 24 points, six rebounds, and two steals. Kyan VanderWoude followed with 22 points and six rebounds, and Carson Grier tallied 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 

Augie holds an 81-71 all-time series record over the Thunder, with the Vikings collecting a 101-76 victory a season ago at the Carver Center. A total of 14 Vikings scored in the win, with Staishaun Kelley adding 11 points to go with two steals. 

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.