CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team tied the school record for wins with a 70-60 win over Augustana University Fri., Feb. 2 at Lysaker Gymnasium. The victory snaps an eight game skid dating back to a win over Upper Iowa University Dec. 31, 2017.

Minnesota Crookston improves to 9-14 (6-11 NSIC) as their nine wins ties the team's school record during the NCAA Division II era set with nine victories during the 2000-01 season. The victory marks the first for the Golden Eagles over Augustana since Nov. 24, 2004 in a non-conference tilt. The win is the first NSIC victory over the Vikings, who are just two seasons removed from winning the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016. Minnesota Crookston improves to 2-16 all-time against Augustana. The Vikings fall to 13-10 (8-9 NSIC) with Friday's loss.

The Golden Eagles are currently in fifth place in the conference standings, just one game back from Bemidji State University in fourth place.

The Golden Eagles came in with energy from the tip-off Friday as they got an all-around team effort. Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) overcame strong defense from John Warren to put in 20 points on 6-of-15 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The NSIC's leading scorer also had four rebounds and four assists.

Gable Smith (R-Jr., F, Lodi, Wis.) added a well-rounded offensive and defensive effort Friday. The elder statesman of the Golden Eagles, notched 16 points and six rebounds. He also got back to form defensively with eight blocks. Smith leads the nation in blocked shots. Ben Juhl (Fr., G, Clive, Iowa) added 10 points and six boards, while Alan Hodge, Jr. (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas) chipped in 10 points and four rebounds. Josh Collins (Jr., F, Minneapolis, Minn.) also came into his own as the University of North Dakota transfer continues to acclimate to his new team after transferring at semester. Collins had nine points.

Javier Nicolau (So., F/C, Castellon, Spain) put together one of his best nights of the season off of the bench for Minnesota Crookston. The 6-10 post was crucial on the boards with seven rebounds. He also added five points and three blocked shots.

Minnesota Crookston shot 25-of-52 from the field for 48.1 percent. The Golden Eagles connected on 7-of-17 for 41.2 percent from beyond the arc. Minnesota Crookston also found success from the stripe going 13-of-16 for 81.3 percent.

The Golden Eagles had a strong defensive performance as they limited Augustana to 24-of-64 from the field for 37.5 percent. The Vikings, a strong three-point shooting team who had shot near 40 percent on the season, was limited by Minnesota Crookston to just 5-of-21 for 23.8 percent Friday.

Hodge and Juhl did an especially nice job blanketing Augustana star point guard Jordan Spencer. The lone remaining starter from the National Championship squad was limited to just four points on 4-of-14 from the field. Spencer came in averaging 16.8 points per game. He was also forced into several turnovers on the night, as the league's No. 3 man in assist-turnover ratio had nine assists to six turnovers Friday.

Marcus Asmus tried to pick up the slack for the Vikings as he recorded a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. Warren added nine points and five boards, while Steven Schaefer and Jameson Bryan also added nine points. Adam Dykman notched seven points and nine boards.

Augustana was able to win the battle on the boards 39-31 led by Dykman's nine.

The Vikings got out to an early 4-2 lead following a pair of Dykman free throws. Minnesota Crookston overcame Augustana as Collins hit a basket and Juhl went 1-of-2 from the foul line to put the Golden Eagles up 5-4. The two teams would trade baskets up until Minnesota Crookston would be able to push their lead out to 13-9 on a pair of Cleary free throws. The Vikings quickly fought back as Andy Kerkman got to the hoop for two and Bryan hit a three-pointer to put Augustana up 14-13. The two squads again traded buckets until Minnesota Crookston climbed ahead 30-21 with a bucket from Juhl with 7:21 remaining in the half. The Vikings did not succumb as they came back with an 8-0 run, pulling within 30-29 on a Bryan basket with 3:59 left in the half. Minnesota Crookston fended off the charge with a Collins jumper to make it 32-29. They would hold on to a one-point advantage at 34-33 going into the locker room.

The Golden Eagles were led in the first half by 10 points from Cleary. Juhl notched eight points, while Collins had seven. Smith chipped in six points and three blocks in the first frame. Minnesota Crookston shot 13-of-38 for 46.4 percent in the opening period. They were 4-of-9 for 44.4 percent from trey and 4-of-6 for 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.

Augustana was led by Bryan with nine first half points. Dykman added seven points and five boards. The Vikings were 13-of-29 for 44.8 percent. Augustana shot 3-of-10 for 30.0 percent from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 for 100.0 percent from the foul line.

The Golden Eagles quickly pushed their lead to 38-33 early in the second half following a Collins fast-break dunk off an assist from Gabrys Sadaunykas (R-Fr., G/F, Vilnius, Lithuania) and a Cleary fast-break bucket off an assist from Juhl. Augustana countered with a 7-0 run as they took the 40-38 lead following a Schaefer triple. Minnesota Crookston countered with a Cleary trey as they went up 41-40. The two teams traded baskets until the Golden Eagles were able to go up 46-42 with a Nicolau free throw with 9:41 remaining in the game. Minnesota Crookston continued to build on their lead as they pushed out to 56-46 following a Hodge triple. Augustana did not give in as they were able to cut the deficit back down to two points at 58-56 following an Asmus bucket.

Minnesota Crookston continued to fight off the Vikings with a 4-0 run as Smith hit back-to-back jumpers to make it 62-56. The Golden Eagles moved their lead to 70-58 following free throws for Smith with 36 seconds remaining. Minnesota Crookston would hang on for the 70-60 victory.

The Golden Eagles will look to continue to build on Friday's win as they take on Wayne State College (Neb.) Sat., Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.