The men's basketball team fired on all cylinders in Minneapolis on Monday night, playing an outstanding second half of hoops to pick up a great road victory.

Though currently riding a high, the team has had its ups and downs during January and February. Tight games against St. John's University, Bethel College, and Gustavus Adolphus College have proven that the talented Oles can play with any team in the MIAC, but some tough, close losses have left the team with a 7-16 overall record.

Monday's 93-78 win at Augsburg College was the big win that the Oles had been waiting for. "We played really well overall," said senior captain Hallie Williams. "I think this is the best I've seen us play since I've been here." The Oles took a lead early, but Augsburg hit some three-pointers to stay in the game. St. Olaf brought a two-point lead into the break but it came at a high price.

Sophomore Mike Ludwig, the team's leading scorer at 19.7 points per game, sprained his ankle near the end of the first half and did not return. Ludwig had played a great half, scoring 19 points‹half of St. Olaf's total.

Rather than falling apart after the loss of Ludwig, the men pulled together and played outstandingly when they returned. "In the second half, everyone picked it up," said senior captain Ryan Olson. "It was encouraging to see what our offense could do in the second half without Mike."

The senior co-captains both played well in that half, leading a balanced offensive attack in which six Oles reached double figures. Olson made all nine of his free throw attempts, en route to scoring 17 points, one short of his season high. Sophomore Kevin Jaunich added a season high 20 points.

The Oles used more than an explosive offense to pick up the road victory, as Williams explained. "Everybody stepped up both offensively and defensively, which led to some serious frustration for Augsburg." The Oles cruised to the finish line, beating playoff-bound Augsburg by 15 and completing a season sweep.

The men are hoping that momentum from the win can propel them into the season finale against Carleton College. St. Olaf hopes to recover the coveted Goat Trophy, a traveling plaque currently in Carleton's possession. A team needs only to split the season series to keep the trophy, but must sweep to win it back.

"The Augsburg game was a tremendous win for us and a huge boost," explained Williams. Williams had a double-double in January 2nd's 80-72 victory over Carleton, putting St. Olaf in a position to win the Goat Trophy back.

The potential loss of Ludwig makes the challenge all the more difficult. "It'll be a tough game to win without Mike," head coach Dan Kosmoski said. "But the way our offense played in that second half against Augsburg, anything can happen."

"The Carleton game will be interesting because they live and die by the three," said Olson, who is no slouch from behind the arc himself. "They shoot 30 threes a game and if they make 15, they win. It's no secret to anybody." And anytime St. Olaf plays Carleton, emotions run high. That will be especially true on Saturday when two different senior classes end their careers.

Recovering the Goat Trophy would be a great cap for the 2001 campaign and a nice precursor to the certain success in the next few seasons of St. Olaf basketball.