Gustavus senior Doug Espenson has been named MIAC Basketball Player of the Week. Espenson (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East HS) averaged 23.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game to help the Gusties post a 3-0 record and clinch their second consecutive MIAC regular season title. Espenson scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Monday’s 75-62 win at Augsburg, then he scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in Wednesday’s 72-60 win at Macalester, and closed out the week by scoring 29 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in Saturday’s 82-73 win at home against Saint John’s.
Espenson reached two milestones during the week as he became the first player in Gustavus history to score 1,000 points, grab 600 rebounds, make 100 3-point baskets and block 100 shots in a career, and only the 12th player to score 500 points in a season. Espenson leads the Gusties in scoring at 20.3 point per game and in rebounding at 6.9 rebounds per game. Gustavus is currently 20-5 overall and 18-2 in the MIAC.
The Gusties, who are the #1 seed in the MIAC Playoffs, will host a semifinal game on Thursday at 7 p.m. The opponent will be determined after first round games on Tuesday night.