BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg College men's basketball team claimed a 66-57 victory over Saint Mary's University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall. With the win, Augsburg moves to 15-8 overall (12-6 MIAC) and clinches its third conference postseason playoff spot in the last four seasons.

Augsburg finished with three players in double figures. Andy Seidlitz (SO, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) led the way with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Tyler Schmidt (JR, Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson HS) also finished with 15 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line, while adding a team-high three steals. Cory Polta (SR, Spring Lake Park, Minn./Spring Lake Park HS) finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while shooting 5-of-8 from the floor.

Saint Mary's (5-17 overall, 5-12 MIAC) was led by Pat Freeman (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), who finished with 19 points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists, while shooting 7-of-10 from the field.

In a game that saw seven tie scores and 12 lead changes, the Auggies were able to hit 7-of-9 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to seal the victory. After leading 32-23 at the half, the Cardinals chipped away at the Auggie lead and took a one-point advantage (43-42) off a jumper at the 11:55 mark of the second half. The two teams traded baskets until the 4:30 mark, when Seidlitz hit a three-pointer that sparked a key 8-0 run for Augsburg, which included an old-fashioned three-point play by Schmidt. Saint Mary's cut the Augsburg led to four, but couldn't get any closer as the Auggies closed out the game at the free-throw line.

On the afternoon, Augsburg shot 40.0 percent (20-of-50) from the floor, while the Cardinals connected on 45.7 percent (21-of-46) of their shots. The Auggies held a 33-28 advantage on the boards and were able to force 19 Saint Mary's turnovers, which they converted into 29 points. Augsburg also claimed a 26-10 advantage in bench scoring and a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint. The Auggies were also able to hit 22-of-30 from the free throw line, while Saint Mary's was only able to connect on 9-of-13.

Augsburg returns to action next week with games on Monday (2/13) and Wednesday (2/15) as the Auggies round out the MIAC regular season with games against St. Olaf and Carleton colleges.