SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Gustavus men’s basketball extended its win streak to five games with an 84-69 victory at Hamline, improving to 14-7 overall and 11-5 in the MIAC. The Gusties have locked up at least the No. 4 seed in the MIAC playoffs and could move up to No. 3 with a win against Saint John’s on Wednesday night paired with a Carleton loss against Bethel.
Evan Wieker (So., St. Michael) shot the lights out on Monday night, not missing a basket the entire game, as well as going 7-7 from the floor with two from behind the arc, and 3-for-3 from the charity stripe to finish with 19 points. Additionally, Kaleb Feahn (Sr., Waseca) recorded 22 points and Spencer Swanson (Fy., Waconia) added 13 while Nolan Malo (Sr., Owatonna) had a team high 10 rebounds.
The Gusties ran out to an 11-4 lead, Wieker manned the charge with four points and a rebound. Feahn, Adam Biewen (So., Golden Valley),, and Swanson gave the Gusties breathing room with a trio of three-pointers for a 20-11 edge with 11:11 remaining in the first half.
Wieker, Benji Lundberg (Sr., Ellendale), Malo, Jake Guse (Jr., Waseca), Feahn, and Swanson contributed to a 13 point run as the Pipers fired back with 17 of their own to keep the margin close at halftime, 33-28.
The Gusties shot 46.2 percent from the floor to Hamline’s 35.5. Additionally, Gustavus went 5-for-6 on free throws.
Hamline came out with energy in the second half, tying it in the opening 30 seconds. Three pointers from Pete Lundquist (Sr., Rochester) and Feahn kept the Gusties ahead 39-36 before going on a 16-9 run with 10:34 left. With seven minutes remaining, the Pipers were able to cut the score to a five point deficit but Gustavus would start putting nails in the coffin with back to back threes by Feahn and Swanson with the latter coming with just over four minutes left to put them up by 12.
Gustavus maintained a double digit lead throughout the closing stretches of the game when the final buzzer went the Gusties sealed the victory by a fifteen point margin.
The Black and Gold shot 50 percent to the Pipers 39, out-rebounded 39-26, and went 22-for-28 from the charity stripe.
The Gusties are next in action when they travel to Saint John’s to close out the regular season on Wednesday night at 7:00.