Tyler Kaus scored a career best 20 points against Bethany.
Trent Hollerich looks to get the ball into the post.
The Gustavus men’s basketball team shot 63.8 percent from the field and cruised to a 110-64 non-conference win over Bethany Lutheran College in Saint Peter, Minn. on Monday night. The Gusties, who improved to 3-0 on the season, where led by sophomore Tyler Kaus who scored 20 points.
The Gusties and Vikings, who were playing each other for the very first time, got off to a fairly slow start as the score was 14-11 in favor of Gustavus halfway through the first 20 minutes. The Gusties, however would outscore Bethany 10-0 over the next minute and a half to take a 13-point lead at 24-11. Gustavus exploded for 36 points in the final 10 minutes of the first half and led 50-29 at the intermission. The Gusties who shot 68.2 percent from the field in the half (15-22) were led by Tyler Kaus with 14 (including 4-of-4 from 3-pt. range), and Adam TeBrake with 12.
Gustavus continued to build its lead early in the second half and extended its cushion to 30 points at 77-47 with 11:11 left in the game. The Gusties continued their red-hot shooting making 11 of their first 17 shots in the second half.
Coach Mark Hanson inserted the Gustie reserves in the final 10 minutes of the contest with Gustavus leading 78-52. The squad carried on the team’s red hot shooting by making 11-of-19 shots the rest of the way and extending the lead to as many as 48 points. Gustavus broke the 100-point barrier on a lay-up by Andrew Doble with 2:54 left in the game. It was the first time that the Gusties have scored over 100 points since a 121-59 win over Hamline on February 13, 2002.
Tyler Kaus scored a career high 20 points to lead all scorers. Senior wing Adam TeBrake contributed 19 points. Others in double figures for Gustavus included Phil Sowden and Kane Sivesind with 12 each, and Andrew Olson with 10. The Gusties finished the game shooting 63.8 percent from the field (37-58), 75.9 percent from the free throw line (22-29), and 56.0 percent from the three-point line (14-25). The 14 treys are the third highest single game total in school history. The record is 16 set against Hamline in February of 1997.
Bethany Lutheran, which fell to 1-3 on the season, was led by Alfonso Mayfield with 15 and Dewan Grant with 14. The Vikings shot 38.7 percent from the field (24-62) and 60.0 percent from the free throw line (12-20).
Gustavus will open MIAC play with a game at home against Hamline on Wednesday evening (11/30) at 8:00 pm.