MINNEAPOLIS – The Augsburg University men's basketball team couldn't maintain its early lead, as the Auggies fell to Bethel University 85-79 in overtime in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Thursday night at the Robertson Center.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Bethel 85, Augsburg 79
LOCATION: Robertson Center, Arden Hills, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 1-1 overall (0-1 MIAC), Bethel 1-1 overall (1-0 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Auggies put together a strong first half, shooting 55.2 percent (16-of-29) from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Augsburg held the Royals to just 34.6 percent (9-of-26) shooting in the frame and took a 43-27 lead into the locker room at the intermission.
• The Auggies continued to extend their lead to a 56-35 advantage, at the 12:45 mark of the second half. The Bethel offense rallied and cut the Augsburg lead to single digits over the next eight minutes. The Auggies led 72-71 with 23 seconds to play, but missed a pair of free throws, while Bethel converted on 1-of-2 from the free-throw line with two seconds left to force overtime. The Royals outscored the Auggies 13-7 in overtime to claim the victory.
• For the second straight game, Augsburg was led offensively by Matt Carik (SR, Rogers, Minn.), who finished with 21 points, while adding three rebounds and a pair of steals.
• Joe Palmer (SO, Faribault, Minn./Faribault HS) posted his second straight double-double, finishing with a career-best 19 points, to go along with a game-high 10 rebounds.
• Jack Sorenson (SO, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) scored a season-best 18 points, while Bradley Winter (SO, Winona, Minn.) put up an Auggie career-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds.
• The Auggies dominated in points off-turnovers (23-to-2) and claimed a big advantage in points in the paint (36-to-20), but Bethel was able to hit 19 three-pointers, compared to just eight for the Auggies.

FOR THE FOES
• Bethel was led by a 23-point effort from Isaiah Carver-Bagley.
• Noah Whalen provided a spark off the bench for Bethel, scoring 17 points for the Royals.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg's Saturday (2/13) game against Concordia has been postponed, so the Auggies are next scheduled to return to action on Wednesday (2/17) with a nonconference match-up against Saint John's University in Collegeville, Minn. 
• Bethel is scheduled to return to action on Saturday (2/13) traveling across town to take on Hamline University.