NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team dropped an 82-81 contest to visiting Augsburg University. The Knights' Matt Banovetz posted game highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds in posting his eighth career double-double along with three blocks, three assists, and two steals.
 
Carleton (13-8, 10-6 MIAC) trailed much of the contest but after facing double-digit deficits on multiple occasions, the Knights rallied to take an 81-78 lead when Luke Harris scored with 1:46 to go. Carleton was held scoreless the rest of the way, and Will Blascziek's layup with 7.8 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in lifting Augsburg (8-13, 6-10 MIAC) to victory. Harris' bid for the game-winner at the other end circled the rim before falling out as time expired.
 
Miles Frisch was critical off the bench, scoring 19 points, including five 3-pointers, both career highs. Harris continued his double-digit scoring streak, pitching in 15 points of his own, as well as six assists, six boards, and three steals.
 
Augsburg got off to an early 21-11 lead, thanks to hot shooting, as the visitors were 8-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. The Knights found their offense later in the opening half and eventually tied the game at 35-35 after Frisch drained a trio of 3-pointers during a 14-5 run.
 
Augsburg held a 45-42 advantage at intermission and began the second half with six consecutive buckets as the visitors built their largest lead of the contest at 60-49 lead with 16:15 still to play.
 
The Auggies cooled off, and the Knights responded with a 12-1 run of their own, knotting the game back up at 61-61 via Frisch's fourth triple of the ballgame.
 
The teams began trading buckets until a Banovetz 3-pointer gave the Knights a 77-76 lead with 4:04 still on the clock. That was Carleton's first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
 
Both defenses came up with big stops down the stretch as the team combined for only 10 points the rest of the way.
 
In the closing moments of the game, Carleton missed a free throw, and the Auggies secured the rebound setting up Blascziek's heroics.

Carleton shot .559 overall and was 11-of-21 (.524) from 3-point range but only took five free throws in the game. Augsburg connected at a .492 clip and was 12-of-27 (.444) from beyond the arc in addition to going 10-of-15 at the charity stripe.
 
The Auggies were led by a 17-point effort by Caden Scales and 14 points from Trent Gomez. Ali Axmed chipped in 12 points, and Blascziek finished with 11 points.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton travels to Hamline University for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday, Feb. 7. The Pipers (11-5 MIAC) are currently in second place in the conference standings.