MINNEAPOLIS – Hot shooting from behind the arc nearly fueled a comeback by the Bethel University men's basketball team before being edged by Augsburg Wednesday evening on the road, 86-82.

The Royals nearly erased a 17-point deficit with just under 11 minutes remaining but the Auggies hit four key free throws in the final 26 seconds to shatter the comeback effort. Bethel slips to 7-6 on the season and 4-4 in MIAC play. BU closes out the week on the road at Concordia Saturday afternoon with tip-off set for 3 p.m.

Senior Derek Magnuson led all Royal players with 24 points, 17 of which came during the second half, on 9-of-12 shooting. Junior Jack Jenson tallied 17 points while junior Granger Kingland scored 15 and senior Matt Ambriz chipped in 14 points. Senior Tyler Barker recorded a game-high eight assists to go with seven rebounds.

BU found themselves trailing 67-50 with 10:40 remaining before going on a 28-11 run. A layup by Magnuson – who scored 14 points during the stretch – tied things up at 78 apiece with 2:04 left to go.

Augsburg continued to knock down free throws before Magnuson knocked down his fourth 3-pointer of the game to keep the Royals within reach with 17 seconds left. The Royals forced an Auggie turnover in the backcourt before Kingland went to the line making the first to pull within two before missing the second. Augsburg went to the other end making a pair before Ambriz's three fell short as the horn sounded.

Kingland and Ambriz knocked down back-to-back threes as the Royals opened the game on a 9-0 run.  Augsburg countered with a 12-2 run grabbing its first lead with 12:44 left in the first. The teams traded buckets over the final six minutes as Bethel went into the locker room trailing 41-38.

BU finished the night 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) shooting from behind the arc and held the edge on points in the pain at 34-24.