ARDEN HILLS, Minn. -- The Augsburg University men's basketball team posted a big Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory, claiming an 80-75 win over Bethel University on Monday night at the Robertson Center.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 80, Bethel 75
LOCATION: Robertson Center, St. Paul, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 9-3 overall (5-2 MIAC), Bethel 8-4 overall (5-2 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• After jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead to start the game, the Royals countered with a run of their own and it would be a battle to the end. Augsburg was able to grow its lead to double digits in the second-half, but couldn't quite shake the tough Bethel squad. The Royals pulled within three (78-75) with 43 seconds to play, but after trading timeouts and a pair of Bethel fouls, Booker Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) hit a pair of free throws to extend the Auggie lead to 80-75. The Royals had a look at a three pointer and lay-up in the final seconds, but neither fell as the Auggies claimed the important conference win.
• For the second consecutive game, Matt Carik (JR, Rogers, Minn./Rogers HS) played all 40 minutes of action. Carik led the Auggies in points (23), rebounds (6) and steals (5), while shooting 9-of-13 from the field and 4-of-7 from three point range.
• The Auggies utilized a balanced scoring attack with five players finishing in double figures. In addition to Carik's 23 point night, Coplin added 14 points and three rebounds. Coplin has scored in double figures in all but one game in the past two seasons.
• Martin Mitchell (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) dished out a game-high four assists, to go along with 12 points, while shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from three point range.
• Joe Palmer (FY, Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) and James Streeter (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn./Totino Grace HS) added 11 and 10 points respectively. Each recorded four rebounds, while Streeter collected a game-high three blocked shots.
• For the fifth time this season, Augsburg shot better than 50 percent from the field. The Auggies were 29-of-54 from the field for the game, including an impressive 60 percent in the second-half (15-of-25) and 61.54 percent from three-point range in the first-half (8-of-13). Bethel connected on 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the field and 41.4 percent (13-of-16) from three-point range.
• Bethel posted a 29-24 advantage on the boards, but Augsburg claimed 34-24 advantage in points in the paint.

FOR THE FOES
• Bethel also had five players finish in double figures, led by a 17 point effort by Hudson Urbanus.
• Isaiah Carver-Bagley pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, while dishing out a pair of assists.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Saturday (1/11) at 1 p.m., hosting Macalester College in a men's and women's doubleheader.
• Bethel also returns to action on Saturday (1/11), hosting Gustavus Adolphus College at 1 p.m.