MINNEAPOLIS -- Behind a 25-point, eight-rebound, three-steal effort from Booker Coplin (JR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS), the Augsburg University men's basketball team claimed a 68-65 victory over Hamline University in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 68, Hamline 65
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 5-1 overall (2-1 MIAC), Hamline 4-3 overall (2-1 MIAC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Hamline's Isaac Brooks hit a three-pointer with 2:01 to play to give the Pipers their first lead of the second half, a 63-62 advantage. Augsburg's Coplin responded with a three-pointer of his own on the following possession to put the Auggies up 65-63. Augsburg then hit 1-of-2 from the free-throw line to extend its lead to three, before the Pipers countered with a pair of free throws to pull the score to 66-65 with 41 seconds to play. Augsburg missed a jump shot on its next possession, but Kevin McKiernan (SR, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) came up with a huge offensive rebound and was fouled. McKiernan converted both free throws to put Augsburg up 68-65 and the Auggies were able to hang on for the win.
• Augsburg was led offensively by MIAC scoring leader Coplin, who finished with 25 points, including 2-for-2 from three-point range and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Coplin added a team-best eight rebounds and three steals, while adding a pair of assists. Coplin has scored 15-plus points in each of his six games this season and has 16 games in his two-season Augsburg career with 15-plus points.
• Coming off the bench, Martin Mitchell (JR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) scored a career-high 15 points, finishing the night 6-for-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range. The effort was his eighth double-digit scoring performance of his Auggie career.
• Despite fouling out, Mark Della Vedova (SR, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley HS) finished with 10 points, while adding seven rebounds. Over the past two games, Della Vedova is a perfect 9-for-9 from the field.
• McKiernan added 10 points for Augsburg, while Matt Carik (SO, Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) dished out a team-best five assists, adding six points and three steals.
• Hamline shot 46.0 percent (23-of-50) from the field, while Augsburg was held to just 38.6 percent (22-of-57) shooting. The Pipers also claimed a 38-30 advantage on the boards. Augsburg was able to connect on 7 three-pointers on the night, while Hamline only converted on 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.

FOR THE FOES
• Hamline finished with three players in double figures, led by a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double by Ethan Scheuring.
• Isaac Brooks scored a team-best 18 points, while Jake Larson added 16 points for the Pipers.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (12/8), hosting Concordia-Moorhead in a doubleheader at Si Melby Hall. The women are scheduled to tip off and 1 p.m., while the men will start at 3 p.m.
• Hamline plays at Saint John's on Saturday at 3 p.m.