Men's Basketball 1/16/02 -- Augsburg 78, Gustavus 75 

BOXSCORE

MINNEAPOLIS (1/16/02) -- Jay Howard (So., Burnsville, Minn.) recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 28 seconds of play, preserving a 78-75 upset win for Augsburg College over Gustavus Adolphus College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.

Four Auggies scored in double figures as the hosts claimed one of the biggest upsets in the nation in Division III basketball this season. In improving to 7-8 overall and 3-7 in the MIAC, Augsburg broke a seven-game losing streak. Gustavus, which fell to 13-2 overall and 8-2 in MIAC play, was ranked No. 6 in the nation in the D3hoops.com Division III national rankings and No. 9 in the nation in the Basketball America magazine Division III national poll.

Augsburg rallied from first-half deficits of 11 and 10 points to lead 39-38 at halftime. There were 12 lead changes and nine ties in the game -- with six ties and six lead changes in the second half. Neither team led by more than five points in the second half.

The Gusties opened the game strong, leading 22-11 at the 11:33 mark, as the Gusties went 3-for-3 from the three-point arc in the opening minutes. But the Auggies cut the lead to 23-22 at the 8:43 mark with an 11-1 run, keyed by two 3-pointers from reserve guard Travis Kalis (So., Elysian, Minn./Waterville-Elysian-Morristown HS).

Kalis, who entered the game averaging just 0.8 points in 6.8 minutes per game, had a career-high 15 points and career highs of nine assists and three steals, playing 35 minutes. He went 3-for-4 from three-point range.

Another Gustie run, keyed by three-pointers from Eric Nelson (So., Mendota Heights, Minn./Simley HS) and Kirk Walberg (Sr., Annandale, Minn.) and a three-point play from David Newell (Jr., Fergus Falls, Minn.), gave the visitors a 34-24 advantage with 6:19 left in the half.

But Augsburg outscored Gustavus by a 15-4 mark to close the half, with Kalis scoring four points and adding two seals, and Nick Peters (Jr., St. Peter, Minn./Nicollet HS) scoring five points.

The teams stayed close in the second half, with each team answering the other on numerous occasions. Both teams had strong nights from the outside, as Augsburg hit 12-of-23 from three-point range (52.2 percent), while Gustavus hit 11-of-25 three-pointers (44.0 percent).

Walberg scored 21 points, hitting five 3-pointers, to go with five assists and two steals for the Gusties, while Nelson had four 3-pointers for his 14 points.

Peters hit four 3-pointers to lead all scorers with 18 points, adding six rebounds. Adam Kotewa (Jr., Mankato, Minn./West HS) three 3-pointers to score 17 points.

Gustavus led 62-57 with 7:58 left in the second half, but the Auggies closed the gap and took a 66-65 lead with 2:30 left, behind hoops from Kotewa and Kalis, and a three-pointer from Peters.

Nelson hit a layup with just under two minutes left to give the Gusties a 67-66 lead, but Kotewa nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key with 1:49 left to give the Auggies a 69-67 lead. Walberg tied the game at 69-69 with a layup with 1:14 left. But Peters hit another three-pointer, a fallaway from the right side with 45 seconds left, to give the Auggies the lead to stay at 72-69 with 45 seconds remaining.

Gustavus was forced to foul, and Augsburg responded with the play of its inside force, Howard. He hit all six of his free throws in the final 28 seconds, and despits two three-pointers from the Gusties' Walberg -- including one with under seven seconds left -- it was enough for the Auggies to claim victory.

Both teams shot well from the free-throw line -- Augsburg hitting 14-of-16 (87.5 percent) and Gustauvs hitting 14-of-17 (82.4 percent).

Both teams return to MIAC play on Saturday (1/19) at 3 p.m. in Northfield, Minn., with Augsburg playing at Carleton and Gustavus playing at St. Olaf.