SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team is set for its toughest test of the season 1 p.m. Saturday as it travels to No. 5 St. Thomas. The Gusties enter the game 2-3 overall and 2-0 in the MIAC, while the Tommies are 6-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.
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The Series: Saturday’s game marks the 195th meeting between Gustavus and St. Thomas on the hardwood with the Tommies leading the all-time series 119-75. Last season the Tommies swept the regular season series, winning 97-53 on Jan. 2 in Saint Paul, followed by a 74-66 victory on Feb. 4 in Saint Peter. The Gusties last defeated the Tommies on Jan. 24, 2018 in Saint Peter, winning 69-68.
Scouting the Gusties: Gustavus’s last two games went to overtime with two different outcomes. The Gusties lost 89-79 at Central last Saturday but rebounded with an 88-81 win over Hamline on Wednesday. Through five games, the Gusties lead the MIAC in assists (18.2) and blocks (4.0) per game, and are fourth in rebounding (37.0). They average 78.0 points, but allow 83.0 points per game. The Achilles heel early in the season has been ball control as the Gusties average a conference-high 16.8 turnovers per game. Three Gusties average double-digit scoring led by Logan Rezac’s 15.8 points per game. Rezac also averages 6.8 rebounds and shoots 44.6 percent from the floor. Nolan Malo and Isaac Douglas are next on the scoresheet with 13.6 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Douglas leads the team with 24 assists. Jake Guse is the team’s presence in the post, hauling in a team-high 7.0 rebounds per game and swatting away 10 total blocks.
Scouting the Tommies: Since losing its only game of the season to Whitworth on Nov. 16, St. Thomas has won five straight, most recently defeating Macalester 64-35 on Wednesday. The Tommies are strong on both ends of the court, leading the league in defensive three-point percentage (29.5) and steals (8.3), and rank second in points per game (80.7). They shoot 47.3 percent from the floor, including 37.1 percent from beyond the arc, and average 34.7 rebounds. Three Tommies average double figures led by Anders Nelson’s 13.9 points per game. Nelson also has a team-high 13 steals, 21 assists, and 32 rebounds. Tommy Anderson averages 11.0 points and Elijah Hannah follows with 10.1 points.