NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team fell on Wednesday night to the Oles of St. Olaf by a score of 68-66. With the loss the Gusties move to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in MIAC play.
After trading baskets to start the game and the score even at 4-4, Spencer Tollefson (Sr., New Richland, Minn.) hit a three pointer to put the Gusties up 7-4. Gustavus held that lead the entirety of the first half and extended it to 10 thanks to an Isaac Douglas (So., Montevideo, Minn.) three pointer with 41 seconds to play in the half that helped the visitors go into the break ahead 41-31.
After the half the Gusties came out strong again starting on a 9-4 run to lead 50-35 with 16:09 to play but that’s when the Oles started battling back. After the Oles went on a huge 27-12 run during the second half, the game was tied at 62, the first time the Oles had evened the score since it was even at four. The Gusties got the lead up to 66-62 with just 1:50 to play when Riley Sharbono (Sr., Marshall, Minn.) made a layup and then knocked down two free throws but the Oles once again battled back. They made a layup with 55 seconds left to pull themselves within two, then headed to the free throw line with 15 seconds left looking to tie the game. After making the first free throw, the Oles missed the second but got their own rebound and hoisted up a three with time running down and connected with .5 remaining to take a 68-66 lead. On the ensuing inbounds the Gusties were fouled, but missed the front end of a pair of free throws and after purposely missing the second, the Oles secured the rebound, as well as the victory.
On the contest, Sharbono led all scorers with 18 points on 6-11 shooting, including 3-5 from three point range. Nolan Malo (Fy., Owatonna, Minn.) added 14 points as well as eight rebounds for the visitors while Logan Rezac (So., Andover, Minn.) had eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Gusties shot a higher percentage from the field (46.0%) as well as the three point line (42%) in the contest and out-rebounded the Oles 38-32, but they had 19 turnovers to just 11 from the Oles.
The Gusties will now be off for over two weeks before they take on Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 29 in Morris, Minn. for a 1 p.m. contest.