The Gustavus men’s basketball team jumped out to an 11-point, 19-8 lead in the first seven minutes of the game and never looked back on its way to a hard-fought 68-56 win over Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa on Tuesday night. The Gusties, who shot 49.0 percent (25-51) from the field, placed four players in double figures including Kane Sivesind (13), Jesse Van Sickle (13), Trevor Wittwer (12), and Andrew Doble (12). Gustavus improves to 1-1 on the season, while the Beavers fall to 2-1.
The Gusties combined solid defensive pressure, and good rebounding, with great shot selection to build its double-digit lead early in the game. Gustavus maintained increased its lead to 14 points at 36-22 with two minutes left in the first half, however Buena Vista scored the next five points to cut the lead to nine at 36-27 with :56 on the clock. Trevor Wittwer made two free throws at the :26 mark and the Gusties took a 38-27 lead into the locker room.
The Beavers would use a basket by Brian Fogelman in the first :15 seconds of the second half to cut the lead to nine (38-29), however the Gusties would score the next seven points to extend its lead to 16 points at 45-29 with 17:39 left in the game. Buena Vista would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
Gustavus shot 49.0 percent from the field (25-51), 33.3 percent from three-point range (4-12), and 73.3 percent from the free throw line (14-19), while Buena Vista shot 40.7 percent from the field (24-59), 25.0 percent from three-point range (4-16) and 33.3 percent from the free throw line (4-12). The Gusties out-rebounded the Beavers 39 to 32.
Trevor Wittwer turned in a strong all-around performance for Gustavus as he scored 12 points (including 8-of-11 from the free throw line), grabbed 10 rebounds, dished off four assists, and blocked three shots.
The Gusties will have the next eight days off before opening conference play at home against Macalester on Wednesday, November 28.