Men's Basketball 12/3/08 -- Augsburg 76, Hamline 73

MINNEAPOLIS (12/3/08) -- Jon Cassens (JR, Prior Lake, Minn.) led Augsburg College with 19 points and seven assists in a 76-73 victory over Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball rival Hamline University on Wednesday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall. With the win, Augsburg head coach Aaron Griess collected his 100th career win (100-112 in nine years overall, 29-51 in four seasons at Augsburg), as the Auggies moved to 3-2 overall (1-0 MIAC), while the Pipers fell to 2-3 overall (1-1 MIAC).

Despite being outshot (52.9 percent-to-44.6 percent) and outrebounded (37-30), the Auggies were able to claim the victory in their MIAC home-opener by shooting 50 percent (7-of-14) from the three-point line, while forcing 24 Piper turnovers which directly led to 28 points for the Auggies.

Each team traded leads in the first half, with the Pipers leading by as many as six at the 17:10 mark, while the Auggies led by as many as 10 with 2:49 remaining. Hamline would go on a 9-0 run to end the half as the Auggies took a narrow 39-38 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, the Auggies were able to build a nine-point lead off a three-pointer by David Olson (SR, Lindstrom, Minn./Chisago Lakes HS) at the 7:00 mark. Hamline again would chip away at the Auggie lead cutting it down to one with only 25 seconds remaining. Augsburg's Matthew Quammen (SO, Victoria, Minn./Holy Family HS) was able to make four clutch free-throws in the final 17 seconds as the Auggies claimed the thrilling 76-73 win.

In addition to Cassens, Augsburg was paced by three other players scoring in double-figures -- Olson and Nate Alm (SR, Eden Prairie, Minn.) each had 17 points, while Alm led the Auggies with eight rebounds. Quammen had a season-high 12 points and six assists.

Hamline was led by the duo of Carl Hipp and Tony Thrasher. Hipp posted a game-high 20 points on an 8-12 shooting performance, while also collecting eight rebounds and two blocked shots. Thrasher, the only other Hamline player to finish in double figures, recorded 16 points and five rebounds.

Augsburg will return to action on Monday (12/8) at 7:30 p.m. when it travels to face the University of St. Thomas at Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul, Minn.