Hamline scored the first seven points of the game and led from start to finish, leading 41-29 at halftime and pulling ahead by as many as 20 points in the second half to improve to 5-6 overall, 4-2 in MIAC play.
Augsburg, led by 19 points and nine assists from Justin Koslowski (So., Wausau, Wis./Wausau Newman HS), is now 3-8 overall, 2-4 in MIAC play.
Hamline led by nine points early, but Augsburg trimmed the lead to 23-18 with 7:25 left in the first half. However, a 10-0 run over the next three minutes, keyed by two Thrasher three-pointers, put the Piper advantage in double-digits, 33-18 with 4:50 left in the opening stanza.
After trailing by 20 points five minutes into the second half, Augsburg went on a run of its own -- a 17-4 stretch to cut the lead to four points, 64-60 with 9:10 left. Darren Nelson (So., Richfield, Minn.) and Dan Graf (Jr., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) had six points apiece in the Auggie run.
However, Hamline then went on an 8-2 run over the next two minutes to put the lead back at 72-62, led by four free throws by Sam Wiener (Jr., Marshall, Minn.). Hamline expanded the lead to 16 points in the closing minutes.
Wiener had 12 points, five rebounds and seven assists for the Pipers, while Kory Kelzer (So., Mayer, Minn./Watertown-Mayer HS) had nine points and seven rebounds. Jon DeRock (Fr., Buffalo Lake, Minn./Buffalo Lake-Hector HS) had five points and six assists.
Hamline hit 51.1 percent (23-of-45) from the field, including going 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from three-point range. The Pipers also converted 28-of-32 free throws and outrebounded Augsburg by a 40-23 margin. Augsburg hit 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field and 11-of-17 from the charity stripe.
Augsburg had five players score in double figures. In addition to Kozlowski's 19 points, Tait Thomsen (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) had 12 points, Graf had 11 points and Nelson and Charlie Scott (Jr., Ely, Minn.) had 10 points apiece.
Both teams return to MIAC play on Wednesday (1/11) at 8 p.m., with Augsburg playing at Concordia-Moorhead and Hamline playing at St. Mary's.
Hamline University vs Augsburg College 01/07/06 3:15 p.m. at Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. At Si Melby Hall, Minneapolis, Minn. HAMLINE UNIVERSITY 83, AUGSBURG COLLEGE 71 HAMLINE UNIVERSITY (5-6, 4-2 MIAC) Tony Thrasher 9-14 2-2 26; Kyle Foster 5-7 12-12 22; Sam Wiener 3-4 4-4 12; Kory Kelzer 4-10 0-1 9; Jon DeRock 1-5 3-4 5; Joe Smock 0-2 4-4 4; Chris Babcock 1-2 1-1 3; David Johnson 0-0 1-2 1; Ayan Hargrove 0-0 1-2 1; Jon Viemeister 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-45 28-32 83. AUGSBURG COLLEGE (3-8, 2-4 MIAC) Justin Kozlowski 7-14 2-2 19; Tait Thomsen 6-8 0-3 12; Dan Graf 3-10 4-4 11; Darren Nelson 4-8 2-4 10; Charlie Scott 4-6 0-0 10; Matthew Huttner 2-5 0-0 4; Devin Rose 0-4 2-2 2; Kevin Keto 1-4 0-0 2; Grant Hemmingsen 0-2 1-2 1; Sama Sandy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 11-17 71. Hamline University............ 41 42 - 83 Augsburg College.............. 29 42 - 71 3-point goals-Hamline University 9-17 (Tony Thrasher 6-8; Sam Wiener 2-2; Kory Kelzer 1-3; Joe Smock 0-2; Chris Babcock 0-1; Jon Viemeister 0-1), Augsburg College 6-16 (Justin Kozlowski 3-7; Charlie Scott 2-4; Dan Graf 1-2; Matthew Huttner 0-1; Kevin Keto 0-1; Darren Nelson 0-1). Fouled out--Hamline University-None, Augsburg College-Charlie Scott. Rebounds-Hamline University 40 (Kyle Foster 10), Augsburg College 23 (Matthew Huttner 7). Assists-Hamline University 19 (Sam Wiener 7), Augsburg College 21 (Justin Kozlowski 9). Total fouls-Hamline University 15, Augsburg College 20. A-269.