ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Augsburg University fell to Hamline University 80-56 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game on Wednesday at Hutton Arena. The Auggies struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3 percent from the field, and were outscored 34-26 in the paint. The Pipers capitalized on their opportunities, leading by 10 at halftime and extending the lead in the second half with nine 3-pointers and 29 points from the bench.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Hamline 80, Augsburg 56
LOCATION: Hutton Arena, St. Paul, Minn.
RECORDS: Augsburg 14-7 overall (7-5 MIAC), Hamline 12-8 overall (4-7 MIAC)

GAME RECAP
Augsburg opened the first half with a strong showing at the free-throw line, as Keenan Rodriguez contributed early by making the first point from the charity stripe. Hamline quickly responded with a layup by Brendan Ebel, followed by a 3-pointer from Raoul Vaidya at the 17:44 mark, establishing a 7-2 advantage. Despite struggling from beyond the arc, missing all nine attempts, Augsburg capitalized on Hamline's turnovers, with Elias Batala and JJ Semanko each contributing key points in the paint. Batala, scoring in double figures for the 17th time this season, and reaching the 20-point plateau for the eighth time, demonstrated his scoring prowess. Meanwhile, JJ Semanko's 17 points marked the 19th time he has scored in double figures in his first 21 collegiate games. The visiting team managed to draw even at 12-12 midway through the half following a layup by Semanko.

However, Hamline gained momentum with a series of successful 3-pointers and maintained a lead for the remainder of the half. Brendan Ebel's consistent scoring helped the Pipers pull ahead, concluding the half with a 41-31 advantage over the Auggies.

Augsburg struggled to maintain momentum in the second half as the Pipers capitalized on turnovers early, extending their lead with key baskets. Despite Augsburg's efforts, including a layup by Isaac Rabaey at 18:18 and a 3-pointer from Keenan Rodriguez at 8:19, they faced difficulties with turnovers, committing 10 in the half. The team managed to convert 9 of 12 free throws, but Hamline's efficiency in the paint proved challenging. Hamline's Dane DeDominces was active on both ends, scoring and assisting, while Jake DeDominces added three consecutive free throws to widen the gap. 

AUGSBURG PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
• Elias Batala: 20 points, 12/16 free throws made, 6 rebounds  
• JJ Semanko: 17 points, 8/8 free throws made, 8 rebounds, 2 steals  
• Hanif Muhammad: 7 points, 4 steals, 3 rebounds     

HAMLINE PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
• Brendan Ebel: 15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals  
• Dane DeDominces: 16 points, 3/5 3-pointers made, 11 rebounds  
• Raoul Vaidya: 10 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds  
• Jake DeDominces: 11 points, 4/5 free throws made, 1 steal 

UP NEXT
• Looking ahead, Augsburg will face Saint Mary's University on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at David R. Thies Arena in Winona, Minn. The game will tip off at 7 p.m.