SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston fell 80-62 to Augustana University Friday, January 20 at the Elmen Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. Augustana used a 26-7 run at the end of the first half guided by 16 points during that stretch from Isaac Fink. The Golden Eagles put up a solid effort in the second stanza, as they outscored the Vikings 41-37 during the final 20 minutes. However, it would not be enough to overcome the late first half run for Augustana.

Minnesota Crookston drops to 1-18 (0-13 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Augustana improved to 9-10 (5-8 NSIC) with the win.

The Golden Eagles were led by Blaize Sagna (So., G, London, England) with 17 points and five assists. Sagna was 7-of-13 from the field. Rambo Badyal (Sr., G, Kelowna, British Columbia) came off the bench for 14 points on 5-of-8 from the field. Badyal is averaging 14.5 points per game in the last two. Xzavier Jones (Jr., G/F, Milwaukee, Wis.) and Chandler Meeks (Fr., G, Omaha, Neb.) each added eight points.

UMN Crookston shot 24-of-57 from the field for 42.1 percent. They had an impressive second half, going 15-of-29 from the field for 51.7 percent. The Golden Eagles were 5-of-11 from beyond the arc for 45.5 percent in the second half.

Augustana was led by Isaac Fink with 25 points, 23 of which came in the first half. He was limited to two points in the second half. Ryan Miller added 17 points. Akoi Akoi led the team with four assists. Fink completed a double-double with 12 rebounds. The Vikings shot 30-of-66 from the field for 51.6 percent. They were 11-of-25 from beyond the arc for 44.0 percent, including five triples from Fink.

The Golden Eagles took a 6-4 advantage after a fastbreak bucket off the Sagna steal by Meeks. Minnesota Crookston pushed their lead out to 8-4 as Sagna drove to the hoop for a pair. Augustana knotted the game up at 8-8 with 14:40 left in the first half on an Isaac Fink lay-in. The Vikings pushed their advantage to 13-8 with a Sam Rensch triple. The Vikings pushed their lead to 17-10 with a Jadan Graves jumper with 11:30 left in the first period. Minnesota Crookston trimmed the deficit to 17-14 following a Sagna bucket. However, Augustana took over from there as they utilized a 20-5 run led by 13 points from Fink to push their lead out to 37-19. The Vikings went into the locker room with a 43-21 lead.\

The Golden Eagles came out of the locker room in the second half and were able to go on an 11-6 run as Ron Kirk, Jr. (So., G/F, Milwaukee, Wis.) basket trimmed the UMN Crookston deficit to 49-32 with 14:23 left in the game. The Vikings were able to catapult the lead back out to 66-42 after Fink scored his 25^th point of the game, his first of the second half. UMN Crookston was able to get the deficit back down to 18 (68-50) after a Badyal trey. The Golden Eagles fell 80-62 despite outscoring the Vikings in the second stanza.

Minnesota Crookston continues their road trip Saturday, January 21 at Wayne State College at 3:30 p.m.