ROCK ISLAND -- The Augustana Vikings men's basketball team squeaked out a 60-58 victory over the Elmhurst Bluejays on Thursday night to move into sole possession of fourth place in the CCIW.

Augie began the contest on a 9-1 scoring run through the first five minutes of action, the first of two eight-point leads before the halfway point of the period. After a made three by Anthony Cooper moved the score to 14-6, Elmhurst chipped away at the differential and got within four on two different occasions over the course of the next four minutes. From there, six straight points by the Vikings gave them their first double-digit lead of the half at 23-13 before reaching the largest margin of the frame moments later at 26-15. The Bluejays brought it back into single digits and got within seven around the three-minute mark, but were held scoreless the rest of the way. Tyler Knuth's jumped with under a minute remaining put Augustana up 33-22 at the halftime break. The Vikings held the Bluejays to just 29 percent shooting through the opening 20 minutes and held a plus-seven advantage on the glass.

Augie out-scored the visitors 10-4 in the opening four minutes of the second half to build a cushion of 16 points. The Vikings remained out in front by double figures for the first eight minutes of the frame, but the Bluejays got within nine around the 11-minute mark. Consecutive baskets in the paint from Evan Ambrose and Staishaun Kelley halted the momentum for the time being to make it a 50-37 score at the halfway point. The visitors fought back and used a 10-0 run over the span of four minutes to get within one, later evening the score at 55 apiece following a four-point play. With 1:43 left on the clock, the Bluejays collected their first lead of the game with a three-pointer, but an Ambrose layup cut the deficit to one on the ensuing possession. Augie quickly forced a turnover and Ambrose gave the Vikings the lead with a set of made free throws. The Bluejays had a look at the rim with less than 10 seconds to play, but the ball went out of bounds to Augustana. After another free throw by Ambrose, a last-second half-court heave fell off the mark for Elmhurst to give Augustana the two-point win.

The Vikings were led in the win by Knuth, who finished with 18 points and moved into 14th all-time in points in Augustana history. He also surpassed 200 career made three-pointers, just the second ever to accomplish that feat with the Vikings. Ambrose followed with 12, while Ray Maurchie grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Augustana improves to 14-8 overall and 7-6 in the CCIW. The team will hit the road for its final regular season road contest of the season on Saturday at Carroll.