Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS—Brycen Wojta's pair of free throws with 14.3 seconds remaining in the game were enough to help Bethel University upset Augsburg College 70-67 in the opening round of the 2014 MIAC Playoffs. Wojta was Mr. Clutch for the Royals (14-12, 9-11 MIAC), as he finished with the final six points and had a hand in Bethel's last 17 of the contest.
 
The Auggies (18-8, 14-6 MIAC) hosted Wednesday evening's semifinal as the No. 3 seed in the tournament, but the Royals held the home squad to 23.8 percent (5-of-21) shooting from downtown. Meanwhile, Augsburg converted just 10-of-20 shots from the charity stripe.
 
Bethel outscored Augsburg in the opening half 32-28. The Auggies led 27-22 with 5:21 left in the frame, but a 7-0 run for the Royals—capped off by a bucket by Tyler Schimdt—gave the lead back to BU and they never let go throughout the remainder of the night. Aden Casey buried a 3-pointer right as the buzzer went off before the half, helping Bethel build a four-point advantage.
 
The Royals held onto its lead throughout the entire second half, leading by as many as 10 with 11:24 left in the game. Augsburg slowly chipped away at the lead, narrowing it to one point with just over two minutes, but a missed Auggie layup late in the game, a critical block by Christian Skinner, and Wojta's "ice water in his veins" moment capped a remarkable upset on the road.
 
Bethel's offense was exceptionally balanced, as six players scored seven or more points and three ended in double figures. Brycen Wojta led the brigade with 15 points, while also padding the stat line with six boards and six assists. Senior Quinn Gorski had one of his best games of the season, scoring 11 points and swiping three steals in BU's 2-3 zone.
 
Luke Buttenhoff finished Wednesday's quarterfinal matchup with 10 points and four rebounds, while Tyler Schimdt and Kyle von Schmidt-Pauli each added eight points. BU's offensive balance helped them outscore Augsburg 29-5 in bench points.
 
The Royals finished 7-of-7 from the foul line and 50 percent (27-of-54) from the floor, but even more impressive was their 42.9 percent (9-of-21) shooting from long range. Bethel suffered just seven turnovers, but forced the Auggies into 13. As a result, BU outscored Augsburg 8-3 in points off turnovers. Conversely, Bethel finished with 18 assists.
 
Augsburg's big three—Dan Kornbaum, Noah Veach, and Andy Seidlitz—finished with a combined 55 points. Seidlitz managed a double-double with 10 assists and Kornbaum finished with eight rebounds.
 
Bethel's 13th trip to the postseason in the last 15 years will continue Friday, as the Royals will face St. Thomas in Schoenecker Arena at 7:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear black in what's being coined as a "black out".