The Austin boys basketball team took a major hit to its Big Nine title hopes as it lost to Mankato East (13-1 overall, 11-0 Big Nine) 58-52 in Mankato Monday.

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Packers (11-2 overall, 8-2 Big Nine) who are now two games back of East in the loss column.

Ogur Gari scored to bring Austin within 53-52 with 2:17 left, but the Packers went scoreless the rest of the way.

Agwa Nywesh finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four steals for the Packers.

Austin 26  26  —  52

East 28  30  —  58

Austin scoring: Agwa Nywesh, 16; Ogur Gari, 10; Teyghan Hovland, 7; Pierre Lilly, 6; Moses Idris, 6; Victor Idris, 5; Okey Okey, 2; free throws: 70 percent (7-for-10)