Honolulu, Hawaii — After a tightly played first half, Gustavus took control in the second half on the way to an 84-72 win over Thomas More (Crestview Hills, Ky.) at the Whitworth College Hawaiian Classic held in McCabe Gym on the campus of Chaminade University.
Gustavus (5-3) shot 68% (19/28) in the second half to pull away from a 31-31 tie. Tim Brown scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half to lead the charge. John Whippler came off of the bench to lead GAC with 20 points and Chris TeBrake added 11 points.
The Gusties turned a 48-45 lead into a 60-45 advantage with 6:53 to play. GAC extended the lead to 18 points (69-51) before the Saints (2-5) pulled back to within 78-68 on a three-point play by Craig Russell. But only 1:22 remained in the game.
Marcus Johnson scored 16 points to lead Thomas More, while Russell scored 15 points and Andrae Woodard finished with 13.
Gustavus Adolphus, the 2003 NCAA Division III runner-up, finished the Whitworth Hawaiian Classic with a 1-1 record after dropping a heartbreaking 80-79 loss against defending NAIA Division I champion Concordia on Saturday.
(Story courtesy of Steve Flegel, Whitworth SID)
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS 84, THOMAS MORE 72
THOMAS MORE (2-5)
Marcus Johnson 4-13 6-6 16; Craig Russell 6-8 3-6 15; Andrae Woodard 4-13 4-4 13; Will Adams 1-3 6-10 8; R.K. Thurman 2-3 3-4 7; Paul Hardy 2-4 2-2 6; E.J. Haynes 1-1 1-4 3; Kevin Brockhoff 1-1 0-0 2; Chris Thompson 1-7 0-0 2; Shane Masters 0-1 0-0 0; Ed Thornton 0-1 0-0 0; Chris Hill 0-1 0-0 0; Josh Couch 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 25-36 72.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS (5-3)
John Wippler 8-9 4-8 20; Tim Brown 6-15 5-6 18; Chris TeBrake 3-8 5-8 11; Doug Espenson 3-7 2-3 9; Brett Boese 2-3 4-8 8; Eric Nelson 2-5 0-0 6; Adam TeBrake 2-4 0-1 4; Phil Sowden 2-2 0-0 4; Adam Thorson 2-2 0-1 4; Seth Midura 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-56 20-35 84.
Thomas More………………. 31 41 – 72
Gustavus Adolphus…………. 31 53 – 84
3-point goals-Thomas More 3-15 (Marcus Johnson 2-6; Andrae Woodard 1-3; Will Adams 0-1; Chris Thompson 0-3; Ed Thornton 0-1; Josh Couch 0-1), Gustavus Adolphus 4-18 (Eric Nelson 2-5; Tim Brown 1-5; Doug Espenson 1-3; Adam TeBrake 0-2; Seth Midura 0-1; Chris TeBrake 0-2). Fouled out–Thomas More-Will Adams; Marcus Johnson, Gustavus Adolphus-Eric Nelson.
Rebounds-Thomas More 31 (Craig Russell 6; R.K. Thurman 6), Gustavus Adolphus 48 (John Wippler 9). Assists-Thomas More 9 (Marcus Johnson 3; Will Adams 3), Gustavus Adolphus 20 (Tim Brown 4; Doug Espenson 4). Total fouls-Thomas More 31, Gustavus Adolphus 24.