BOXSCORE MINNEAPOLIS -- Booker Coplin (SO, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) scored a team-best 19 points, but a strong second-half propelled No. 15-ranked Saint John's University to an 85-75 win over Augsburg University in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday afternoon. 

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Saint John's 85, Augsburg 75
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis 
RECORDS: Augsburg 11-4 overall (6-4 MIAC), Saint John's 12-1 overall (8-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first 16 minutes of the game were action-packed. A Martin Mitchell (SO, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) three-pointer with 4:03 to play in the first half brought the score to 36-35 in favor of the Johnnies, but Saint John's countered with an 8-0 run before Mitchell could add a pair of free throws to cut the SJU lead to 44-37 at the intermission. The Johnnies were able to extend their lead to as many as 24 in the second half, before Augsburg put together a late rally to cut it to 10 at the final.
• Coplin led the Augsburg offense with his 19-point performance, which included a 5-of-6 effort from three-point range, adding five rebounds and a pair of blocks.
• Leading the Auggies on the boards was Chany Pal (SR, Fridley, Minn./Fridley HS), who pulled down eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end, while adding seven points.
• Also scoring in double figures for the Auggies was Collin Olmscheid (SR, Buffalo, Minn.), who finished with 10 points, while adding two rebounds and a steal.
• Kevin McKiernan (JR, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) added nine points and seven rebounds.
 • For the game, Augsburg connected on 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field, while the Johnnies connected on 46.6 percent (27-of-58) of their shot attempts. The Johnnies claimed a narrow 36-35 advantage on the boards, while the Auggies posted a 15-5 advantage in second chance points.

FOR THE FOES
• Four Johnnies finished in double figures, led by Jubie Alade, who scored a game-high 21 points, shooting 9-of-14 from the floor.
• Garrett Goetz and Tyler Weiss added 15 points apiece for Saint John's.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to MIAC action on Wednesday (1/17) at 7 p.m.,traveling to St. Peter, Minn. to take on Gustavus Adolphus College.
• Saint John's begins a three-game homestand, hosting Macalester College on Wednesday at 7 p.m.