Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS—Despite possessing a 36-31 lead at the half, Bethel University's men's basketball team was unable to hang on against Augsburg College, falling on the road 71-80. The Royals (13-11, 9-10 MIAC) had the lead throughout the entire second half, but surrendered it with just over five minutes remaining and could never gain control.
 
The Auggies (16-7, 12-6 MIAC), who are looking to lock up fourth place in the MIAC standings, were led by three players in double figures, including Noah Veach who was 8-for-8 from the floor and 13-of-15 from the free throw line for a game-high 29 points.
 
Bethel trailed by seven points after the opening 11 minutes of the first half, but utilized a 21-8 run over the next seven minutes to not only erase the margin but also grab hold of the lead. The Royals led for 20 minutes of play between the two halves, but a 9-0 run for the Auggies late in the second half proved to be too much for BU in the end.
 
Augsburg outscored Bethel 49-35 in the second frame. The Auggies outrebounded BU 19-12 and doubled the Royals trips to the foul line (24-12). Moreover, Augsburg forced eight Bethel turnovers.
 
The Royals shot 52 percent (28-of-54) throughout the game and made 37 percent from outside the arc. But the Auggies outscored Bethel 22-8 at the charity stripe and finished with a 34-22 rebounding advantage. The two teams equaled one another down low, with each finishing with 34 points in the paint. Meanwhile, Bethel scored two more points off turnovers (17-15).
 
Brycen Wojta got back to midseason form, as the freshman standout scored 26 points, while also grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists. Fellow freshman and roommate Jackson Canfield poured in 15 points, including three from long range. Canfield also tallied four assists and two steals.
 
Christian Skinner came off the bench to add a complete stat line, scoring 11 points, grabbing three rebounds, swiping three steals, and dropping a pair of dimes. Luke Buttenhoff added seven points and six rebounds.
 
The Royals have likely secured the sixth and final seed of the 2014 MIAC Playoffs, despite the loss Saturday. Both Concordia and Carleton, its closest competitors fell in MIAC play, so Bethel still stands two wins in front of each team. Bethel's final regular season game will be at home next Saturday, when the Royals welcome St. Olaf College to the Robertson Center Gym for Senior Day. Tipoff will begin 30 minutes after the women's matchup, which is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.