Minneapolis, MN - The Saint Scholastica men's basketball team completed their final game of the season in an away game against the Auggies of Augsburg University. The Saints put up a very hard fight, but fell short by two points in the end, resulting in a loss to end their season.
How it Happened
1st Half
The final game of the season tipped off with the Auggies sinking a three-pointer right away to grab an early lead, but Moe Washington (Silver Spring, Md./Hibbing Community College) quickly responded with a layup. Augsburg kept up the pressure with a jumper, while Aaron Keykal (Princeton, Minn./Princeton HS) got on the board at the other end, knocking down a free throw to bring the score to 3-5.
The Auggies kept their momentum, stringing together a six-point run to extend their lead. Senior Ethan Russell (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) halted their streak with a clutch three-pointer, followed by a smooth jumper from Jacquez Overstreet (Appleton, Wis./Oshkosh West (Marian University)) to keep his team within reach.
Washington got on the board again, sinking two free throws after drawing a foul, then throwing down a dunk to bring the score to 12-17 midway through the half.
Ben Raymond (Hudson, Wis./Concordia Academy) got on the board with a solid jumper, and Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater High School) drained a three to narrow the gap to 17-19. Both teams battled back and forth, with Keykal adding a layup to counter two made free throws from Augsburg.
Drelyn Jones (Leyden, Il./Leyden High School) found his rhythm with a jumper to match an Auggies layup, while Thomson knocked down another clean three with four minutes left in the half. Augsburg maintained the pressure, despite Overstreet hitting his first three of the game, putting up eight quick points in under two minutes.
Kobe Karels (Cambridge, Minn./Isanti (Aurora University)) had the last word of the half, sinking a three-pointer to send his team into the break trailing 32-36.
2nd Half
Thomson came out firing in the second half, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers. The Auggies countered with two layups and a jumper of their own before Washington added another layup. Augsburg kept the pressure on, responding with another layup and a three, extending their lead to 40-47.
The Saints weren't backing down, as Keykal powered through for two consecutive layups in an effort to close the gap. Jones stepped up once again, converting a tough layup while drawing a foul, then sinking the free throw to bring his team within three.
Despite Augsburg continuing to capitalize on their offensive chances, Thomson stayed hot from deep, sinking his fifth three-pointer of the game. Jones added a free throw after drawing a foul on a fast break to keep the Saints in striking distance.
The Auggies stayed aggressive, knocking down three straight free throws and a layup, but Raymond answered by muscling his way inside for another layup. By the midway point of the half, the Saints trailed 53-61.
Sensing the urgency, the Saints turned up the intensity. Overstreet sparked the run with a layup and a free throw, while Karels drilled a clutch three-pointer, bringing them within two at 59-61.
Keykal added another point from the line, while Washington and Jones each chipped in with a bucket to inch even closer. However, the Auggies stayed composed, continuing to convert from the free-throw line to hold their slim lead.
The Saints' persistence paid off with just six minutes remaining, as Keykal and Washington each scored to give their team its first lead of the game at 68-67. The Auggies briefly reclaimed the advantage with a layup, but the Saints answered with an explosive eight-point run—kickstarted by a Karels three, followed by free throws from Keykal and Thomson, and capped off with another Keykal layup.
Now holding a 76-71 lead with four minutes left, the Saints fought to hold on. Overstreet responded to an Auggies free throw and layup with a bucket of his own, but Augsburg fought back, rattling off six straight points to reclaim an 80-78 lead with just 33 seconds remaining.
With the game on the line, Overstreet delivered in the clutch, sinking two free throws to tie it up at 80-80 with 22 seconds left. But in a heartbreaking finish, the Auggies sealed the win with a buzzer-beater tip-in layup, handing the Saints a narrow 80-82 loss in their final game of the season.
Saturday's game concluded the regular season for the men's basketball team, as they finished their season with a record of (9-16, 5-11 MIAC). The Saints finished in ninth place in the MIAC, falling short of making the playoffs. The men's basketball team will also say goodbye to seniors Jacquez Overstreet (Appleton, Wis./Oshkosh West (Marian University)), Moe Washington (Silver Spring, Md./Hibbing Community College), Ethan Russell (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS), and Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College))
