The Auggies outrebounded the Knights by a 37-19 margin and had one of their strongest shooting performances of the season -- hitting 51.1 percent (23-of-45) from the field, 52.6 percent (10-of-19) from three-point range and 85.7 percent (24-of-28) from the free-throw line -- to improve to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in MIAC play. With the win, Augsburg has already eclipsed its total number of wins from last season (4-21).
Jon Cassens (Fr., Prior Lake, Minn.) had 15 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Femi Solaja (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn./St. Paul Harding HS) had 13 points and six rebounds for the Auggies. Justin Kozlowski (Jr., Wausau, Wis./Wausau Newman HS) hit three 3-pointers and scored 11 points with four rebounds and three assists, and Darren Nelson (So., Richfield, Minn.) scored 10 points.
Paced by 20 points from Zach Johnson (So., Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview HS), Carleton dropped to 1-5 overall, 1-2 in MIAC play. Tommy Drake (Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) had 15 points and Jay Melson (So., Cottage Grove, Minn./Park HS) had 10 points and a team-high four rebounds.
The game was a tight one throughout, with 13 lead changes and 13 ties.
Neither team led by more than six points until the final six minutes of play. Carleton took its final lead of the game, 56-55, with 10:43 left. After that, Augsburg used a 12-4 run to take a 67-60 lead with 6:32 remaining. The Auggies connected on 11-of-12 free throws in the final 2:32 of play to pull away. Augsburg's 11-point final margin of victory was its biggest lead of the game. Augsburg's bench was strong for the second straight game, scoring 31 of the team's 80 points.
Carleton hit 47.5 percent (28-of-59) from the field in the game, but connected on just 20 percent (4-of-20) from three-point range. Carleton hit 75 percent (9-of-12) from the free-throw line.
Augsburg is now idle for the holiday break until Saturday, Dec. 30, when it hosts Northwestern-Roseville as part of a doubleheader at 3 p.m. at Si Melby Hall. Carleton returns to MIAC play on Monday (12/11) at 5:45 p.m. with a game at Concordia-Moorhead.
Carleton College vs Augsburg College 12/09/06 1:00 p.m. at Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. At Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. AUGSBURG COLLEGE 80, CARLETON COLLEGE 69 CARLETON COLLEGE (1-5, 1-2 MIAC) Zach Johnson 9-17 0-0 20; Tommy Drake 4-8 6-7 15; Jay Melson 5-7 0-0 10; Bryan Rosett 4-11 0-1 9; Jeremy Sutherland 3-6 0-0 6; Jake Phillips 1-6 3-4 5; Tucker Shieck 2-2 0-0 4; Reid Merriman 0-0 0-0 0; Mike Kootsikas 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 28-59 9-12 69. AUGSBURG COLLEGE (5-2, 2-1 MIAC) Zach Krumwiede 4-9 9-10 18; Jon Cassens 4-9 4-5 15; Femi Solaja 5-8 3-3 13; Justin Kozlowski 4-6 0-0 11; Darren Nelson 2-3 6-8 10; Mitch Dice 2-5 2-2 7; Grant Hemmingsen 1-1 0-0 3; Chuck Scott 1-3 0-0 3; Dan Graf 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-45 24-28 80. Carleton College.............. 37 32 - 69 Augsburg College.............. 39 41 - 80 3-point goals--Carleton College 4-20 (Zach Johnson 2-6; Tommy Drake 1-3; Bryan Rosett 1-3; Jake Phillips 0-3; Mike Kootsikas 0-2; Jeremy Sutherland 0-1; Jay Melson 0-2), Augsburg College 10-19 (Jon Cassens 3-5; Justin Kozlowski 3-5; Zach Krumwiede 1-1; Chuck Scott 1-2; Mitch Dice 1-4; Grant Hemmingsen 1-1; Darren Nelson 0-1). Fouled out--Carleton College-None, Augsburg College-None. Rebounds--Carleton College 19 (Jay Melson 4), Augsburg College 37 (Mitch Dice 7). Assists--Carleton College 16 (Jake Phillips 6), Augsburg College 15 (Jon Cassens 6). Total fouls--Carleton College 17, Augsburg College 17. Technical fouls--Carleton College-None, Augsburg College-None. A-201.