MINNEAPOLIS -- Matt Carik (SO, Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) hit the game-winning three-pointer for the Augsburg University men's basketball team with 20 seconds remaining, as the Auggies topped the University of St. Thomas 84-81 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff semifinal game on Thursday evening. With the win, the Auggies advance to the MIAC championship game for the second consecutive season.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 84, St. Thomas 81
LOCATION: Schoenecker Arena, St. Paul, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 19-8 overall, St. Thomas 23-3 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies led by as many 20 points with 13:24 remaining in the second half, but had to hold off a 24-6 St. Thomas rally that tied the game 79-79 with 1:49 to play. Both teams traded baskets on their following possessions to notch the score at 81-81. After a turnover by the Auggies and a missed layup by the Tommies, Carik connected on a three-pointer with 20 seconds to play to put the Auggies up 84-81. St. Thomas had two chances to tie the game, but neither fell as the Auggies topped the Tommies in the MIAC playoffs for the second year in a row.
• Augsburg was led by Booker Coplin (JR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS), who played all 40 minutes of action, scoring 32 points and pulling down six rebounds. Coplin was 13-of-20 from the field and added an assist. He has now scored 30-plus points in three straight games.
• Carik also had an outstanding offensive effort for the Auggies, finishing with 23 points, shooting 10-of-14 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range. Carik dished out a team-best five assists and grabbed four rebounds.
• Also scoring in double figures for Augsburg were Martin Mitchell (JR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) and Carter Duncan (JR, Chisago City, Minn./Chisago Lakes HS), who scored 11 and 10 points respectively.
• For the game, Augsburg shot an impressive 56.9 percent (33-of-58) from the floor, while St. Thomas connected on 49.3 percent (33-of-67) of its shot attempts. St. Thomas posted a 32-30 advantage on the boards.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
• For the second straight season, Augsburg will advance to MIAC playoff championship game from the No. 4 seed, after winning a home quarterfinal game and a road semifinal game. Last season, Augsburg claimed a quarterfinal win over St. Thomas and road wins over Saint John's and Bethel to win the MIAC playoff title for the first time in school history.
• Augsburg will travel to face No. 2-seed Saint John's (22-4) in the MIAC championship game on Saturday (2/23) at 7 p.m. Saint John's, ranked No. 10 in the latest D3hoops.com Division III national poll, advanced to the title game with an 82-49 win over No. 3-seed Bethel on Thursday. The winner of Saturday's title game will receive the MIAC's automatic bid to the 64-team NCAA Division III national tournament. The loser will have a chance to receive one of 20 "Pool C" at-large bids to the national tournament.
• The victory was Augsburg's second straight over St. Thomas on the Tommies' home court. Augsburg has now won seven of its last nine games against St. Thomas, dating to the 2015-16 season.

FOR THE FOES
• St. Thomas, ranked No. 9 in the latest D3hoops.com Division III national poll, finished with four players in double figures, led by 18 points from Connor Bair. 
• Michael Hannon added 17 points for the Tommies shooting 7-for-7 from the field.