MINNEAPOLIS -- Kevin McKiernan (SO, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) scored a career-high 33 points to lead the Augsburg College men's basketball team to an important Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory over Hamline University on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 91, Hamline 89
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 8-9 overall (6-6 MIAC), Hamline 10-7 overall (7-5 MIAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
• In a very evenly matched game, Augsburg used clutch shooting from beyond the arc, posting a season-high 13 three-pointers, in addition to hitting 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the important conference victory. With the win, the Auggies are now a half game out of fifth place in the MIAC standings with eight games remaining.
• McKiernan scored his career-high 33 points by hitting 9-of-16 from the field, including 6-of-10 from three point range. He was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line and also pulled down a career-high nine rebounds to go along with six assists.
• Collin Olmscheid (JR, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) shot 9-of-17 from the floor, scoring 22 points, marking his ninth 20+ point scoring performance of the season.
• The Auggies received a huge first half spark from Chuckie Smith (SR, Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS), who came off the bench to score all 15 of his points in the first half, including a 4-for-6 effort from beyond the arc.
• Harry Sonie (JR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) tied a season-high dishing out eight assists.
• On the boards, Nick Varner (JR, Farmington, Minn./Farmington HS) recorded a season-best nine rebounds, while adding six points and an assist.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the field, while Hamline connected on 47.8 percent (32-of-67) of its shot attempts. Both teams were an identical 20-of-23 from the free throw line but Augsburg was able to hit 13-of-28 from three-point range, while Hamline only hit 5-of-17. The Auggies claimed a narrow 36-34 advantage on the boards.

FOR THE FOES
• Hamline was led by Zach Smith, who score 25 points, while adding seven assists. He finished 8-of-13 from the field and 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
• Isaac Brooks and Jay Betts finished with 15 points apiece for the Pipers.

UP NEXT
• The Auggies are off this Saturday and return to action on Monday (1/30) at 7 p.m., when they host Gustavus Adolphus College.
• Hamline returns to action on Saturday (1/28), when the Pipers host Carleton College.