Gustavus Adolphus men’s basketball players Phil Sowden (Jr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Adam TeBrake (Sr., St. Peter, Minn.) have been named All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by a vote of the league’s coaches. Trevor Wittwer (So., Redwood Falls, Minn.) was named the league’s Sixth Man of the Year, while also receiving honorable mention honors. In addition, Trent Hollerich (Sr., Good Thunder, Minn.) was named to the MIAC All-Defensive Team and Mike DesLauriers (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn.) was named to the All-First Year Team.
Sowden, a repeat All-MIAC selection, averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds, placing in the top-15 in the MIAC in both categories. The rangy post player also showed an ample amount of accuracy for the Gusties during the 2005-06 season, hitting 52.2 percent (132-253) of his shots from the field and 82.2 percent (74-90) of his attempts from the charity stripe ranking eighth and third in the MIAC, respectively. Sowden also dished out a team-high 72 assists and pulled down 143 rebounds for the Gusties, second only to Jay Stien.
TeBrake, another repeat All-MIAC selection, led the Gusties with a 16.2-point scoring average to finish sixth in the MIAC in scoring average. TeBrake also registered a team-high 39 steals, finished second on the team with 17 blocks and 65 steals and fourth on the team with 92 rebounds. The senior guard, who ended his career with 1037 points, finished second in the MIAC from long distance, shooting 45.8 percent (55-120) from three-point range. TeBrake also acquitted himself very well at the free throw line, shooting at a 79.3 percent clip (69-87) to rank sixth among MIAC players.
Wittwer spent most of the season as one of coach Mark Hanson’s first options off the bench, but moved into the starting line-up after Andrew Olson was lost due to an injury in mid-February. Wittwer led the MIAC in field goal percentage, hitting 68.0 percent (100-147) of his shots. Wittwer’s shooting percentage hovered at or near 74 percent up until the final few games. Wittwer also led the team in three-point field goal percentage at 63.2 percent (12-19), but did not record enough makes to be ranked among the MIAC’s leaders.
Hollerich started all 27 games this season averaging only 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game offensively, but was a key reason that the Gusties finished in the top three in the MIAC in scoring defense (63.1 points/game), field goal percentage defense (42.8 percent) and three-point field goal percentage defense (33.1 percent). The senior wing player also helped hold opponents to 29.5 rebounds per game, second only to league co-champion St. Thomas which gave up only 28.6 rebounds per game.
DesLauriers played in all 27 games for the Gusties, averaging 14.2 minutes per game. The freshman shot 47.2 percent (17-36) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-17) from behind the three-point line for a 1.9 point per game average. Des Lauriers also finished sixth on the team with 29 assists.
The Gusties finished the season 19-8 overall, 15-5 in the MIAC.