The Storm, now 2-2 overall, outscored the Auggies 18-8 over the final 5:16 of play, turning a 61-61 tie into a victory for the visitors. Lucas Hall (Jr., Elk River, Minn.) scored seven of his nine points in the game for the Storm in the final run, hitting a three-pointer and converting on 4-of-4 free throws.
Jason McWilliams (Sr., Oronoco, Minn./Faith Christian HS) had 18 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots for the Storm, and Paul Auge (Sr., Waconia, Minn.) had 13 points, six assists aand four rebounds.
Augsburg, now 0-3 overall, was paced by Jonathan Gholson (Jr., Gary, Ind./William A. Wirt HS), who had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Justin Olson (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.) and Dan Graf (So., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) had 11 points apiece, with Olson adding seven rebounds and two blocked shots. Kevin Keto (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) scored nine poins and added four assists and two steals.
Crown built an eight-point first-half lead before Augsburg used an 18-9 run over a five-minute span to take a 39-34 lead with 1:19 left in the frame. Augsburg led 39-37 at halftime. Neither team led by more than four points in the second half before the Storm's final 18-8 run.
Crown hit 46.8 percent (29-of-62) from the field, nailing nine 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Augsburg shot just 17-of-35 (39.4 percent) from the field and connected on just 5-of-24 from three-point range. Crown outrebounded Augsburg by a 45-34 margin.
Augsburg returns to action next Wednesday (12/1), opening Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a home game against St. Olaf at 7:30 p.m. at Si Melby Hall. Crown also faces St. Olaf in its next game, a nonconference affair in Northfield, Minn., on Saturday (11/27) at 3 p.m.