SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Despite a game that featured three ties and nine lead changes, Concordia-St. Paul (3-4, 0-1 NSIC) wasn't able to keep up with #21 Augustana (6-1, 2-0 NSIC) in a 103-66 loss in CSP's NSIC opener at Sioux Falls Arena on Friday night.

Concordia led for nearly eight minutes of the contest, but the entirety came in the first half with the final CSP lead coming at 27-26 with just over six minutes to play in the half. It was a strong start as Concordia scored the first five points of the night, a three-pointer by Matt Ambriz off the opening tip and a layup by Bryndan Matthews just over a minute in on CSP's second possession. Concordia took it's largest lead 2:35 into the game when Ahmad Newsome hit a three-pointer for an 8-2 lead.

Newsome led CSP in scoring with 12 points on 4-6 shooting including a perfect 3-3 from the arc in 18 minutes. Matthews had 10 points and four assists and Ambriz knocked down a pair of triples and added three assists.

Augustana was led by Adam Beyer's game-high 24 points on 8-10 shooting including 3-4 from the arc. Mike Busack added 18 points and nine rebounds and Jordan Spencer had a double-double with 14 points and 12 assists.

Augustana was able to claim a six point edge at the break, 43-37. The Golden Bears buried six first half three-pointers (6-13) and had an 8-4 edge on the offensive glass to keep pace with the defending Division II champions.

In the second half, the Vikings opened with a three-pointer on the first possession for their largest lead at nine (46-37) before Newsome answered. Two more three-pointers by Augie pushed the margin to double-digits for the first time.

Diallo Powell answered with a three-pointer and a layup to bring it back to single digits, 52-45 with 17:28 to play in an up-tempo start to the second half. Powell finished with nine points and five rebounds including a stunning first half dunk in traffic.

The Viking offense kept rolling, though, scoring eight straight to make it a 15-point game, 60-45 and kept the margin in double-figures the rest of the night.

Concordia cut the gap back to 10 (63-53) with 11:33 to go and trailed by 13 (70-57) with 9:21 to go.

From there, Augustana outscored Concordia 33-9 to run away with game.

After a first half in which CSP hit six three-pointers and had eight offensive rebounds, Concordia hit just two three-pointers and didn't pull down an offensive rebound after the break.

Augie held a 20-9 edge in the take-give column, leading to a 28-9 margin in points off turnovers and 21-6 on the fastbreak.

Overall, seven players for Concordia scored at least six points in a balanced effort. OC Omoregie had eight points on 3-5 shooting in 11 minutes off the bench and freshmen Sam Siganos and Max Keefe each contributed seven with Siganos dishing five assists with no turnovers.

The Golden Bears look to recover for a road contest at Wayne State tomorrow at 6 p.m.