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MINNEAPOLIS -- Cory Polta (JR, Spring Lake Park, Minn.) led Augsburg College in an exciting second-half rally that fell just short, as the University of St. Thomas claimed a hard-fought 65-61 victory in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Monday night at Augsburg's Si Melby Hall.

Polta led all players on the boards with nine rebounds and recorded his third-consecutive double-figure game with 13 points. Also scoring in double figures for Augsburg (5-2 overall, 1-2 MIAC) was Andy Grzesiak-Grimm (JR, Wyoming, Minn./St. Francis HS) and Matthew Quammen ( SR, Victoria, Minn./Holy Family HS), who each recorded 14 points.

St. Thomas (7-0 overall, 3-0 MIAC) was led by Alex Healy and Tommy Hannon, who scored 15 and 13 points respectively. The Tommies were ranked No. 11 in the latest D3hoops.com Division III national poll.

After trailing by as many as 20 points in the first half, the Auggies put together a crowd-thrilling rally in the second half. Augsburg went on a 20-8 run over an 8:33 span to cut the St. Thomas led to two with less than a minute to play.

Parker Hines (FY, Lakeville, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) hit the clutch three-point shot that brought the Auggies to 63-61 with 11 seconds left in the game. Augsburg then called a timeout to set up its defense. St. Thomas' Tommy Hannon was able to free himself behind Augsburg's pressure defense and converted on a layup with four seconds to play and that was were the score would rest.

For the game, Augsburg shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56) from the field, while St. Thomas shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55). St. Thomas held a 38-30 advantage on the boards but the Auggies won the turnover battle, forcing 11 while only committing six.

Augsburg and St. Thomas both return to action on Wednesday (12/8) at 7:30 p.m., with Augsburg traveling to Hamline and St. Thomas traveling to St. Olaf.