BOXSCORE ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Hitting 51.7 percent from the field, the Hamline University men's basketball team claimed an 87-53 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over visiting Augsburg University on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Hamline 87, Augsburg 53
LOCATION: Hutton Arena, St. Paul, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 6-8 overall (3-3 MIAC), Hamline 8-7 overall (4-2 MIAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Pipers jumped out to a 17-2 lead over the opening 7:09 of the game and never trailed after that, eventually pulling away to lead by as many as 39 points in the second half. Hamline connected on 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the field, compared to 38.2 percent (21-of-55) for the Auggies. The Pipers outrebounded the Auggies by a 39-30 margin and forced 20 turnovers, converting them to 27 points.
• Will Blascziek (SR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) and Elias Batala (SO, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) scored nine points each to lead the Auggies, with Batala adding four rebounds and two assists.
• Trent Gomez (SO, Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors HS) scored eight points with five rebounds, and Zach Jacobson (FY, Apple Valley, Minn./Simley HS) scored six points.
 
FOR THE FOES
• Austin Holt scored 21 points with nine rebounds and four assist to lead Hamline, while Brendan Ebel scored 18 points with three assists and three steals.
• Bradley Cimperman scored 14 pionts with seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts Martin Luther in a nonconference game on Monday (1/13) at 7 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.