NEW ULM, Minn. -- JJ Semanko (FY, New Hope, Minn./Hopkins HS) scored 24 points with nine rebounds in his collegiate debut, hitting the game-winning three-pointer with four seconds left to give the Augsburg University men's basketball team a 91-89 season-opening nonconference win at Martin Luther College on Friday evening.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 91, Martin Luther 89
LOCATION: Luther Student Center, New Ulm, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 1-0 overall, Martin Luther 0-1 overall

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Augsburg outscored Martin Luther by a 10-1 margin in the final 46 seconds to overcome an 88-81 deficit. Keenan Rodriguez (SR, Anoka, Minn./Anoka HS) hit a three-pointer with 40 seconds left, and after a steal by Daveion Hart (FY, Brooklyn Park, Minn./Hopkins HS), Trent Gomez (JR, Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors HS) connected on a three-pointer with 22 seconds to go.
• The Knights went 1-of-2 at the free-throw line to take an 89-87 advantage with 16 seconds left. Semanko was fouled and went to the free-throw line, going 1-for-2. But he grabbed his own rebound and sank his third three-pointer of the game with four seconds left to put the Auggies ahead, with the 14th lead change of the game.
• Semanko went 6-of-14 from the field, including 3-for-7 from three-point range, while going 9-for-12 at the free throw line in his college debut.
• Elias Batala (JR, Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS) scored 15 points, with three steals and two rebounds, for the Auggies.
• Rodriguez scored 14 points, hitting four 3-pointers, and Gomez scored nine points with three steals.
• Augsburg was outrebounded by a 35-24 margin by the hosts, but hit 12 three-pointers as a team, compared to seven by Martin Luther.

FOR THE FOES
• Martin Luther was led by Adam Loberger, who scored 26 points. 
• Benjamin Pearson scored 14 points with 10 rebounds and two steals, and Trey Lauber scored 14 points with seven rebounds.

UP NEXT
• Augsburg hosts Simpson College (Iowa) in a nonconference game next Friday (11/14) at 5 p.m. at Si Melby Hall.