Men's Basketball 1/02/02 -- Macalester 80, Augsburg 46 

BOXSCORE

ST. PAUL, Minn. (1/02/02) -- Doug Benson (Sr., Maple Plain, Minn./Orono HS) went 11-for-13 from the field and finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Macalester College (6-3, 4-0 MIAC) past Augsburg College 80-46 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball Wednesday night (Jan. 2) at Macalester Gymnasium.

Macalester, fresh off its win over Division I Yale (Conn.) during the holiday break, won its second straight game to improve to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in MIAC play, while Augsburg dropped its third straight game and fourth in its its last five to fall to 6-4 overall, 2-3 in MIAC play.

The Scots shot 48 percent (34-of-71) from the field, compared to 30 percent (19-of-64) for the Auggies, and made 12-of-28 from three-point range (43 percent), while Augsburg made just 4-of-20 three-pointers. This was Benson third straight double-double.

Ryan Gerry (Jr., Cave Creek, Ariz./Paradise HS) knocked down 6-of-8 from behind the arc for 18 points and Ben Van Thorre (So., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS) added 15 points. Macalester out-rebounded Augsburg 53-31, including 17-9 on the offensive glass.

Adam Kotewa (Jr., Mankato, Minn./Mankato West HS) scored 15 points to lead Augsburg (5-4, 2-3 MIAC), while Jeff Willihnganz (So., Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West HS) grabbed eight rebounds.

Leading 39-29 three minutes into the second half, Macalester went on a 16-3 run over the next six minutes to seal the victory. Six different players scored during the decisive streak, as the Scots outscored Augsburg 45-23 in the second half, connecting on 53 percent (19-of-36) from the field.

Both teams return to MIAC play on Saturday (1/5) at 3 p.m., Augsburg hosting St. Mary's and Macalester playing at St. Olaf.