The Gustavus men’s basketball team extended its win streak to nine games with a convincing 62-43 win over Hamline at Gus Young Court in St. Peter on Monday night. Brett Boese and Tim Brown scored 12 points each for the Gusties. Coach Mark Hanson’s squad improves to 15-4 overall and 13-1 in the MIAC, while Hamline falls to 6-14 overall and 3-12 in the MIAC.
The Pipers took a 2-0 lead on a basket by Josh Hanson off the tipoff, however the Gusties countered with a 9-0 run which gave them a lead that they would not ever relinquish. Two free throws by freshman post Phil Sowden gave Gustavus an 11-point lead at 26-15 with 5:36 left in the half. A three-point basket by Josh Hanson (the only one of the game for the Pipers), cut the lead to eight at 26-18, but Hamline would not score the final four minutes of the half. Gustavus used a jumper by Eric Nelson at the 1:16 mark to take a 10-point, 28-18 lead into the lockerroom at the intermission.
The two teams traded baskets early in the second half and lay-up by Hamline’s Paul Muenchow cut the Gustie lead to eight at 32-24 with 18:16 to play. Phil Sowden scored four consecutive points for Gustavus to push the lead to 12 at 36-24 and the Gusties would maintain a double-digit lead for the rest of the game. Gustavus slowly built its lead and a layup by freshman post Jay Stein with 1:18 remaining gave the Gusties their biggest lead of the game at 23 (62-39). The Pipers scored the final four points of the game to make the final score 62-43 in favor of Gustavus.
Three Gustie players scored in double figures including Brett Boese and Tim Brown with 12 points each and Phil Sowden with 11. Hamline was led by Josh Hanson with 15 points. Gustavus shot 46.9 percent from the field (23-49), while the Pipers made 29.1 percent from the field (16-55). The Gusties also held the edge on the boards, outrebounding the Pipers 36-31.
Gustavus will now prepare for a showdown with Macalester on Wednesday night in St. Peter. The Gusties hold a one-game lead over the Scots in the race for the MIAC title, however Macalester handed Gustavus its only loss in league play, a 66-54 setback in St. Paul on January 5.