MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 4 seed Augsburg University men's basketball team claimed a 67-55 MIAC playoff quarterfinal victory over the No. 5 seed University of St. Thomas. With the win, the Auggies will advance to the semifinals where they will take on top-seeded Saint John's University on Friday, Feb. 23 in Collegeville, Minn.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 67, St. Thomas 55
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 19-7 overall, St. Thomas 14-12 overall 

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg jumped out to an 8-0 advantage, holding the Tommies scoreless for the first 5:24 of action, and would never relinquish the lead as they earned an important first round MIAC playoff victory over the Tommies. 
• The Augsburg defense held St. Thomas to just 32.2 percent (19-of-59) shooting from the field and claimed a 14-8 advantage in the turnover battle, which led to a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers.
• The Auggies were led by Collin Olmscheid (SR, Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS), who posted a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Olmscheid was 7-of-13 shooting from the floor and added a pair of assists, playing all 40 minutes. The double-double is the second of the season for Olmscheid and 10th of his career.
• Harry Sonie (SR, Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville HS) continued to captain the Augsburg offense, dishing out a game-high six assists, to go along with 14 points and a game-high four steals.
• Also finishing in double figures for Augsburg was Kevin McKiernan (JR, Savage, Minn./Prior Lake HS) and Booker Coplin (SO, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS). McKiernan finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Coplin added 11 points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Chany Pal (SR, Fridley, Minn./Fridley HS) and Matt Carik (FY, Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) added four points and four rebounds apiece for the Auggies.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field and was able to post a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• The playoff win marks the first time in program history that Augsburg has beaten St. Thomas three times in one season in men's basketball.
• The win marks the fourth time in Head Coach Aaron Griess' tenure that the Auggies have advanced to the semifinals or championship game.
• Augsburg moves on to face top-seeded Saint John's, while Bethel will travel to Northfield to take on No. 2-seeded St. Olaf on Friday at 7 p.m. The winners will advance to the Championship game, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed, on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.

FOR THE FOES
• St. Thomas was paced by Michael Hannon (JR, St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall HS), who scored 15 points.
• Steffan Musoke (SO, Otsego, Minn./Rogers HS) scored 11 points with six rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench, and GT Johnson (JR, Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) scored 10 points with five rebounds for the Tommies.
• The Tommies claimed a 38-35 advantage on the boards.