BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- Andy Seidlitz (SR, New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS) hit a jumper with two seconds remaining in regulation to give the Augsburg College men's basketball team its second last-second victory in as many nights. The Auggies posted a dramatic 79-77 victory over Simpson College in nonconference action at Si Melby Hall on Saturday night.

Augsburg (2-0 overall) had lead by as many as 12 points in the first-half but a scrappy Simpson (0-2 overall) defense allowed the Strom to fight their way back into the game. The Storm used a 10-2 run late in the second-half to take a 69-68 lead, their first lead of the half, with 5:20 remaining in the action. Both teams traded baskets over the next five minutes and were tied 74-74 with 45 seconds to play. 

Augsburg's Dave Weber (SR, Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong HS), who hit the game-winning three-pointer in Augsburg's win over Buena Vista on Friday, again came up big for the Auggies, hitting a three-pointer with 30 seconds to play. Weber was fouled on the shot, but was not able to convert the free throw for the 4-point play.

Simpson's Charles Swain (JR,  Austin, Texas/Summit Christian Academy) converted on a layup with 17 seconds left to pull the score to 77-76 in favor of the Auggies. Augsburg committed a turnover on its next possession and fouled Simpson's Austin Hennings (JR, Council Bluffs, Iowa/Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson) sending him to the line to shoot two. Hennings hit 1-of-2 to tie the game at 77-77 with seven seconds remaining.

Seidlitz brought the ball up the court and connected on his game-winning shot with two seconds remaining to give Augsburg a 79-77 advantage. Simpson took two timeouts to set up a final play and was nearly able to convert a half-court shot, but it didn't fall as Augsburg hung on to claim the victory.

In a game that saw a combined 64 team fouls and 74 free throw attempts, it's not surprising that the charity stripe proved to be the difference in the contest. As a team, the Auggies connected on 35-of-42 from the free-throw line, while Simpson only converted 12-of-32. The Auggies put on a free-throw demonstration for fans in the first half, finishing a perfect 25-for-25. Individually, Augsburg's Noah Veach (SR, Grand Haven, Mich./Grand Haven HS) set a school record for free throws made in a single game (18), topping a mark set by Augsburg's career leading scorer Brian Ammann '85 in a game against Hamline in 1983 (17).  

After scoring a career-high 24 points in Friday's contest, Veach posted another career-high night, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds and three steals. Brett Rasmussen (SO, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) posted his first double-double of the young season and third of his career, finshing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies were Seidlitz and Dan Kornbaum (SR, Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls HS), who finished with 17 and 10 points respectively.

Simpson was led by Hennings, who posted a 14-point, 10-rebound effort. Also scoring in double figures for the Storm were Drew Bentley (SR, Burlington, Iowa/Burlington) and Dillon Gretzky (SO, Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell), who finished with 10 points apiece.

For the game, Ausburg shot 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the field, while the Storm connected on 46.0 percent (29-of-63) of their shots. The Auggies claimed a 47-35 advantage on the boards but committed 19 turnovers, compared to just nine for Simpson.

Augsburg returns to action next Friday (11/22) night with a nonconference contest against the University of Wisconsin-Superior at Si Melby Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.