ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Bethel University men's basketball team closed out their 2025-26 season with a 77-73 victory over Augsburg at the Robertson Center Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

The Royals end their season with a 12-13, 8-8 MIAC record, while Augsburg falls to 16-8, 9-6 MIAC.

Bethel 77, Augsburg 73

The first half resulted in 11 made field goals each way, six lead changes, and six tied scores. The even play reflected the 31-31 halftime score, highlighted by AJ Kaul's 3-of-5 performance from the three-point line that gave him nine points through 20 minutes.

The Royals took the lead out of the second-half gates before Kaul gave them their largest cushion of the contest at 54-46 with 10:28 left in the frame. This ignited an Auggies squad that responded with a 19-10 run capped by Elias Batala's dunk with 5:52 on the clock, which gave them their first lead of the half at 65-64. It was a short-lived cushion, as Bethel grabbed the lead for good at 66-65 off Jay Neubert's layup with 4:10 on the clock, which provoked a timeout from head coach Gabe Miller. 

Nick Burke's eight points from that point forward kept Bethel in the driver's seat for good in a 77-73 win over Augsburg.

Burke finished with 26 points, three assists, and five rebounds for the Royals. Kaul came off the bench with 18 points, while Jack Charbonneau had a double double 10 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Gingras chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists.

Bethel shot .518 (29-of-56) from the field, and .360 (9-of-25) from three-point land. 

Elias Batala paced Augsburg with 22 points, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. The Auggies finished .431 (28-of-65) from the field.

Playing in their final game for Bethel are seniors Nick Burke, AJ Kaul, and Adam Mattes.