MINNEAPOLIS — Highlighted by a 17-0 first-half run that stretched a 15-9 lead to 32-9, the Augsburg University men's basketball defeated Marian University 92-65 in a nonconference game on Wednesday night at Si Melby Hall.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Augsburg 92, Marian (Wis.) 65
LOCATION: Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis
RECORDS: Augsburg 2-1 overall, Marian 1-2 overall
GAME RECAP
Augsburg scored 46 points in each half and turned 19 Marian turnovers into a 25-4 advantage in points off turnovers while committing eight turnovers. The Auggies also finished with a 40-30 rebounding edge and outscored Marian 46-32 in the paint. All 15 Auggies who were in uniform saw playing time, with 11 figuring in the scoring.
Augsburg moved in front early behind inside scoring from
Elias Batala and
JJ Semanko, and Semanko's transition layup and free throw at 14:20 put the Auggies ahead 15-7 before the Sabres got two free throws from Carter Uppena. Augsburg then held Marian without a field goal during a 17-0 run from 13:41 to 8:38, with
Hanif Muhammad scoring twice,
Ali Axmed hitting a 3-pointer and Semanko adding the final two free throws for a 32-9 lead.
Marian worked back into the first half behind Andrew Ayeni, Tarell Harding and Rashawn Bost, cutting the score to 43-32 on Bost's 3-pointer at :38. Semanko answered with a 3-pointer off an Axmed assist at :30, and Augsburg took a 46-32 lead into halftime.
Batala scored a transition layup and two free throws early in the second half, and Semanko followed with a second-chance layup and two free throws as the Auggies moved ahead 54-34. Marian got back-to-back scores from Fredrick Ware Jr. and Andrew Ayeni to reach 56-41, but Axmed hit a 3-pointer at 13:52, and the Auggies forced four straight turnovers during a stretch that included Axmed's tip-in for a 61-41 lead. Semanko added a 3-pointer,
Daveion Hart's steal led to a Batala dunk, and Muhammad scored inside as the Auggies pushed the score to 70-47.
Batala later added another dunk and free throw,
Jankarlos Mendoza scored five straight Augsburg points in the closing minutes, and late baskets from
Teni Phillips and
Shiloh Ayitey helped the Auggies finish off a 92-65 win.
AUGSBURG PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
•
JJ Semanko: 25 points, 8/13 field goals made, 7/7 free throws made, 2 steals
•
Elias Batala: 16 points, 5/8 field goals made, 2 steals
•
Hanif Muhammad: 12 points, 4 assists, 3 steals, 4 rebounds
•
Daveion Hart: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
•
Ali Axmed: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
MARIAN PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
• Tarell Harding: 16 points, 8/11 field goals made, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
• Andrew Ayeni: 15 points, 3/6 3-pointers made, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
• Carter Uppena: 12 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds
UP NEXT
The Auggies face the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Wartburg (Iowa) Buzz Levick Tournament at Levick Arena in Waverly, Iowa.
