The Gustavus men’s basketball team opened Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a convincing 91-60 win at Hamline on Wednesday night. Junior Adam TeBrake led the Gusties with 18 points.
Gustavus used a 15-3 run midway through the first half to open up an 11-point lead at 24-13 with 8:32 to play in the half. The Gusties maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the contest. Senior wing Doug Espenson hit two three-point baskets in the final :42 of the first half to give the Gusties a 43-25 lead at the intermission. Gustavus made 9-of-14 three-point baskets in the first half.
The Gusties got off to a quick start in the second half outscoring the Pipers 11-3 to extend their lead to 26 points at 54-28. Hamline would get no closer than 21 points the rest of the second half.
Gustavus made 49.2 percent of its field goals in the contest (32-65), while Hamline converted on only 36.8 percent of its field attempts (21-57). The Gusties converted a red-hot 59.1 percent of their three-point attempts (13-22).
The Gusties were led by Adam TeBrake with 18 points and Doug Espenson with 17. Andrew Olson also reached double figures with 13 points.
Gustavus will next host Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 3:00 pm.