MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University men's basketball fell 76-68 to St. Olaf College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff quarterfinal game on Tuesday night at Si Melby Hall. For the third consecutive season, the Auggies posted 18 or more wins, while the program qualified for the MIAC playoffs five consecutive seasons.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: St. Olaf 76, Augsburg 68 
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 18-8 overall, St. Olaf 13-13

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg started the game strong, connecting on 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field in the first half and went into the locker room at the intermission leading 38-34. The Oles stared the second half with a 10-0 run and extended their lead to 55-42 at the 11:26 mark. Augsburg cut the St. Olaf lead to 69-66 with 1:05 to play, but the Oles hit 4-for-4 at the free-throw line and Augsburg had two 3-point attempts that didn't fall as the Oles pulled out the upset.
• The Auggies were led by a 22-point, 11-rebound, five-assist effort from Booker Coplin (SR, Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS). The double-double is his 10th of the season and 27th of his Augsburg career.
• Joe Palmer (FY, Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) finished with 10 points for the Auggies, connecting on 4-of-8 from the field and adding three rebounds and a pair of assists.
• Jack Sorenson (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) added eight points for Augsburg, while Martin Mitchell (SR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) and Henry Mulligan (SR, Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City HS) chipped in seven points apiece.
• For the game, Augsburg shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field, while St. Olaf connected on 44.6 percent (29-of-65) of its shot attempts.
• St. Olaf posted a 37-28 advantage on the boards, and was able to outscore the Auggies 19-7 in points off turnovers.

FOR THE FOES
• St. Olaf finished with four players in double figures led by a 20-point, nine-rebound effort from Nate Albers.
• Michael Meriggioli added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Oles.