MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University men's basketball team rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to post a 79-78 thrilling comeback victory over Loras College in nonconference action on Saturday at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 79, Loras 78
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-1 overall, Loras 5-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg trailed by 16 points with 14:57 to play in the game, but the Auggies turned up both the offensive and defensive pressure and posted a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
• The game was tied at 72-72 with 1:45 left in the action, when the Auggies used a pair of free throws by Harry Sonie (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley HS) and a huge three-pointer by Booker Coplin (SO, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) on the following possession to take a 77-74 led with 38 seconds to play. But Loras scored a layup and a pair of free throws by Ryan DiCanio to regain the lead at 78-77 with 14 seconds left. Sonie was fouled with seven seconds remaining and was able to convert on both free throws to go ahead 79-78. The Duhawks got a look at a shot with one second remaining, but couldn't convert as Augsburg earned the thrilling victory.
• The Auggies outscored the Duhawks 26-11 over the final 7:13 of play, while the Augsburg defense forced 10 Loras turnovers in the second half and was able to outscore the Duhawks 15-7 in points off-turnovers in the frame. 
• Offensively, four Auggies finished in double figures, with Collin Olmscheid (SR, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) and Sonie leading the way, scoring 17 points apiece. Olmscheid also tied for a game-high in rebounds, pulling down eight, while adding three steals. Sonie was an impressive 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, while adding three steals and a pair of assists. 
• Coplin added a career-high eight rebounds, to go along with 14 points on a 5-for-9 shooting effort. Henry Mulligan (SO, Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City HS) added 10 points for the Auggies to go along with three assists.
• The Augsburg defense held Loras' leading scorer, Josh Ruggles, to a season-low seven points.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 43.5 percent from the field (27-of-62), while Loras connected on 54.5 percent (30-of-55) of its shot attempts. Augsburg claimed an important 33-29 advantage on the boards and was able to connect on 16-of-21 from the free throw line, while the Duhawks were only able to hit 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. The Auggies also claimed a 14-10 advantage in the turnover battle.

FOR THE FOES
• Loras was led by Rowan McGowen, who finished with a game-high 21 points and five assists.
• Ryan DiCanio added 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Duhawks.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Wednesday (12/13) at 7 p.m., traveling to Northfield, Minn. to take Carleton College.
• Loras returns to action on Sunday (12/17) traveling to Waukesha, Wis. to take on Carroll College.