ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- Collin Olmscheid (SR, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Augsburg University men's basketball team in an important 87-74 victory at Bethel University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 87, Bethel 74
LOCATION: Robertson Center Gym, Arden Hills, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 4-0 overall (2-0 MIAC), Bethel 4-1 overall (0-1 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first half was a story of runs -- Augsburg jumped out to a quick 12-2 lead before Bethel could counter with a run of its own and tied the game at 17-17. The Auggies put together a second run and extended their lead to 30-20 with just under seven minutes left in the first half. The Royals again countered, taking a 41-38 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Augsburg tied the game at 50-50 with just over 15 minutes to play in the second half, and would never trail again. Booker Coplin (SO, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 1:34 of action to seal the win for Augsburg.
• Olmscheid led all players with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including a 5-of-8 effort from three-point range. Olmscheid is currently ranked second in the MIAC in scoring, averaging 21.8 points per-game this season.
• Nick Sabatke (SR, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) and Coplin both had Augsburg career-best scoring performances, finishing with 18 points apiece. Sabatke went 7-for-11 from the field, including a 4-for-5 performance from beyond the arc in the second half. Coplin was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, while adding five assists, four rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Leading Augsburg on the boards was Harry Sonie (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS), who pulled down six rebounds, while adding a team-best six assists and five points. Kevin McKiernan (JR, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) added eight points and five assists for the Auggies.
• For the second consecutive game, Augsburg shot better than 50 percent from the field. The Auggies connected on 50.9 percent (27-of-53) of their shot attempts, while holding Bethel to 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the floor. The Auggies had an outstanding night at the free-throw line, connecting on 22-of-23.
• Augsburg took advantage of 16 Bethel turnovers, posting a 23-7 advantage in points off-turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
• Bethel had four players finish in double figures, led by Granger Kingland, who finished with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while adding a game-high nine rebounds.
• Matt Ambriz came off the bench to score 17 points for the Royals, while Jack Jenson dished out six assists.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg is back in MIAC action on Saturday (12/2) at 1 p.m., hosting Saint Mary's University in a men's-women's doubleheader.
• Bethel also returns to action on Saturday (12/2) traveling to Collegeville, Minn., to take on Saint John's University.