The Austin boys basketball team won a defensive battle when they edged out Owatonna (7-7 overall, 5-6 Big Nine) 42-37 in Owatonna Tuesday.

Zach Coffey came up with a steal and an assist to Gach Gach for a lay-up to put Austin (7-8 overall, 6-5 Big Nine) up 38-33 with 3:30 to go in the game and the Huskies never got closer than three the rest of the way. Gach finished with 20 points and seven rebounds.

Austin was out-rebounded 49-30, but it forced 20 turnovers, while only committing seven turnovers. Austin shot 29 percent from the field and Owatonna shot 27 percent from the field.

“I’d like to believe that the defense of both teams was pretty good tonight,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “It was a grinder, but Gach really stepped up for us tonight and made some big plays.”

Austin 22 20 — 42

Owatonna 18 19 — 37

Austin scoring: Gach Gach, 20; Zach Coffey, 7; Nik Gasner, 6; Tate Hebrink, 3; Noah Brehmer, 2; Both Gach, 2 ; Levi Vierkandt, 2; free throws: 31 percent (5-for-16)