The Gustavus men’s basketball team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a convincing 66-42 win over Augsburg College at Gus Young Court in St. Peter, Minnesota. Sophomore wing Adam TeBrake led a balanced Gustie scoring attack with 13 points. Gustavus improves to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the MIAC,while Augsburg falls to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAC.
Both teams started the game very tentatively lead and the score was tied 15-15 with 7:43 remaining in the first half. However, Adam TeBrake sparked the Gusties to a 10-0 run over the next three minutes and Gustavus held a 25-25 lead with 4:33 to play in the half. TeBrake dropped in a fastbreak lay-up and knocked down two uncontested three-point baskets during the scoring spree. Gustavus maintained its double-digit lead throughout the rest of the half and claimed its biggest lead of the half at 14 (35-21) when Adam TeBrake hit a lay-up at the buzzer. The Gusties shot 42 percent in the first half (14-33), while Augsburg made 31.8 percent of its shots (7-22).
Gustavus maintained its 14-point lead through the early stages of the second half until a jumper by Augsburg’s Zac Rosen cut the lead to 11 (42-31) with 11:33 left to play. The Gusties responded with a 13-2 run over the next five minutes to push the lead to 22 points at 55-33 with 6:40 remaining. Augsburg would get no closer than 19 points the rest of the night.
The Gusties, who shot 42.4 percent from the field in the game (14-33), placed three players in double figures including Adam TeBrake with 13 and Tim Brown and John Wippler with 11 each. Wippler’s 11 is a career high for the sophomore post. Senior point guard Chris TeBrake also turned in a nice all-around effort with eight points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one blocked shot. Senior post Brett Boese grabbed eight rebounds for the Gusties who outrebounded the Auggies 46-24.
Augsburg struggled from the floor the entire night making only 16-of-55 field goal attempts (29.1%). Center Lucas Olson-Patterson led the Auggies with 10 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Casey Zilka added eight points.
Gustavus will stay at home to face Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday at 3:00 pm, while Augsburg will return to Minneapolis to host Carleton at 3:00 pm.