The Gustavus men’s basketball team started out Wednesday’s game on a 13-0 run and never looked back en route to a 77-67 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win over St. Olaf on Gus Young Court. The Gusties, who led by as many as 18 in the second half, were led in scoring by senior Adam TeBrake (St. Peter, Minn.) with 14 points, while teammate Phil Sowden (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. With the win, Gustavus moves to 9-3 overall and 4-3 in the MIAC, while St. Olaf falls to 4-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
After opening the game on a 13-0 run, the Gusties built its lead steadily in the first half before a Jay Stein (Jr., Arlington, Minn.) dunk with eight minutes remaining gave Gustavus a 33-12 lead, its largest of the game. St. Olaf pulled to within 13 at 42-29 at intermission after closing the first half on a 17-9 run. Gustavus controlled the paint as they outscored the Oles 26-16 during the game’s first 20 minutes.
St. Olaf started the second half with a 6-2 run to cut the Gustavus lead to nine at 44-35 with 18:02 left in the game. The Gusties answered with a 17-11 run of their own capped by a three point shot by TeBrake to give Gustavus a 61-43 lead with 9:45 to play. St. Olaf cut the Gustie lead to eight points when Brady McMahon scored a lay-up with 20 seconds left to play, but another dunk by Stien sealed the deal, giving the Gusties a 77-67 win. For Gustavus, the win snapped a two-game home losing streak.
Gustavus shot 51.6 percent (32-of-62) from the field, 44.4 percent (4-of-9) from the arc, and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the free throw line. Trent Hollerich (Sr., Good Thunder, Minn.) (12) and Stein (11) were also in double figures for the Gusties. Gustavus out-rebounded the Oles 41-27.
St. Olaf shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the field, 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from the three-point line, and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the free throw line. Bergstrom led the Oles with 18 points, while Jon Bain chipped in 10. St. Olaf held a 31-20 edge in bench points.
The Gusties are now 85-43 all-time against the Oles and have won 12 straight dating back to the 1999-2000 season. Gustavus has also won 10 of its last 11 meetings with the Oles on Gus Young Court.
The Gusties will be back in action on Saturday (1/14) when they face Augsburg at 3:15 p.m. in Minneapolis.