MINNEAPOLIS -- The Augsburg University men's basketball team used a 96-77 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoffs on Saturday afternoon at Si Melby Hall.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 96, Gustavus 77
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 18-7 overall (14-6 MIAC), Gustavus 8-17 overall (8-12 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg was able to gain its first double-digit lead at the 8:21 mark of the first-half, a 24-14 advantage. The Auggies went into the locker room leading 44-30 at the intermission and were able to extend their lead to as many as 23 down the stretch before earning the important MIAC victory. With the win, the Auggies clinch the No. 3 seed in the MIAC postseason playoffs and will host St. Olaf College on Tuesday (2/25) at 7 p.m. in quarterfinal action.
• The Auggies were led by a 26-point, 14-rebound, six assist effort from Booker Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS). The MIAC's leading scorer, averaging 23.8 points per-game, Coplin finished the regular season scoring 20 or more points in 18 of his 25 games.
• Joe Palmer (FY, Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) continued his strong play of late, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Palmer is averaging 12.4 points per-game over the team's last seven games.
• Also scoring in double figures for Augsburg was Martin Mitchell (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS), who finished with 11 points, including a 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line.
• Jack Sorenson (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) pulled down an Auggie career-best eight rebounds, to go along with nine points. Henry Mulligan (SR, Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City HS) and James Streeter (JR, Coon Rapids, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) added nine points apiece.
• Augsburg held Gustavus to its second-lowest shooting performance of the season, connecting at a 37.8 percent (28-of-74) clip from the field and just 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from three point range. Augsburg shot 45.8 percent (33-of-72) from the field and 41.4 percent (12-of-29) from three point range.
• Gustavus posted a 52-43 advantage on the boards, but Augsburg was able to outscore the Gusties 20-9 in points off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
• Gustavus was led by a 17-point, 13-rebound effort from Logan Rezac.
• Kaleb Feahn and Jake Guse added 12 and 10 points respectively for the Gusties.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg returns to action on Tuesday (2/25) at 7 p.m. hosting No. 6 seed St. Olaf College in MIAC quarterfinal action.
• With the loss, Gustavus fell just a game short of the MIAC playoffs and ends their season.