MINNEAPOLIS -- Connecting on 80.8 percent shooting from the field in the first half and 63.0 percent for the game, the Augsburg University men's basketball team claimed a 75-67 home victory over St. Olaf College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 75, St. Olaf 67
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 8-8 overall (4-3 MIAC), St. Olaf 1-15 overall (0-7 MIAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg connected on 63.0 percent shooting (29-of-46) from the field in the game, its best shooting performance since a 64.0-percent (32-of-50) effort in a 92-78 win over Gustavus on Jan. 7, 2019. The Auggies hit an incredible 80.8 percent (21-of-26) from the field in the first half, including going 7-of-9 (77.8 percent) from three-point range, to build a 50-41 halftime advantage. Despite the hot shooting, the Auggies could never fully hold off the Oles. Augsburg led by as many as 12 points in the second half, but the Oles were able to trim the lead to six points down the stretch.
• Four Auggies scored in double-figures, led by
Andy Stafford (SR, Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins HS), who scored 17 points with five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. He scored in double-figures for the 11th time in his 12 games played this season.
•
Elias Batala (SO, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) scored 12 points with three steals, two assists and two rebounds, and
Ali Axmed (SO, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) scored 10 points.
•
Keenan Rodriguez (JR, Anoka, Minn./Anoka HS) scored in double figures for the first time in his collegiate career, with 11 points, two rebounds and three assists.
• Augsburg was outrebounded by a 34-28 margin by the Oles, but St. Olaf was only able to connect on 37.1 percent (23-of-62) shooting in the game.
FOR THE FOES
• Kobe Kirk scored 22 points with two rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocked shots to lead St. Olaf.
• Addison Metcalf scored 14 points, and Chris Willis had seven assists.
UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts Saint John's University in an MIAC contest on Wednesday (1/22) at 5:30 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.
