Senior captain Seth Anderson leads the MIAC averaging 30.7 points per game. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nyhus of Andrew Nyhus Photography.
Seth Anderson – November Male Student-Athlete of the Month – Senior, Basketball
After starting the season 1-1 against two non-conference opponents, the Gustavus men’s basketball team defeated Hamline 73-60 Wednesday night in St. Paul for its first MIAC win. The Gusties have ridden the hot hand of senior captain Seth Anderson in all three games this season, and for his achievements on the hardwood throughout the first month of the season, the Office of Sports Information has named Anderson Male Student-Athlete of the Month for November.
The Minnesota Lake, Minn. native started the 2011-12 campaign like no other Gustavus men’s basketball player had in the history of the program. Anderson set the school record for most points in a game with 45 and tied the program record for most field goals made on 18-of-28 shooting. He also sunk 8-of-10 free throws. His record-setting 45th point came in dramatic fashion by hitting the game-winner as time expired for a 98-96 victory over Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa.
“I’ve never thought that my team was out of any game that I’ve been a part of,” said a still shaking Anderson after hitting the buzzer-beater against the Beavers. “I’m just so proud of the way this team kept its focus and battled to the end. You want everything to go your way as a senior, and tonight it did.”
Anderson ensued his record-setting performance with consecutive 20-plus-point games. On Nov. 19, he shot 9-of-16 from the field and 6-for-11 from the charity stripe for 24 points in a 74-67 loss at UW-La Crosse. Against Hamline on Wednesday, Anderson continued to put big numbers on the board with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 9-of-14 from the line. The senior captain has been the game-high scorer in all three games this season.
Anderson goes up for a jumper during a preseason scrimmage at Winona State University. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nyhus of Andrew Nyhus Photography.
“Seth’s obviously shot the ball pretty well,” Head coach Mark Hanson said. “He certainly is going to get noticed for those points, but he does a lot of other things that are pretty important to us. He sets an intensity tone on defense that we need to have. I don’t want to single him out as the sole leader of the team because we’ve had so many guys step into that leadership role, but when you put up numbers like Seth has, it’s hard to go unnoticed as a leader.”
Through three games, Anderson leads the MIAC averaging 30.7 points per game. He is shooting 59.6-percent (34-57) from the field, 65.7-percent (23-35) from the line, and averaging 4.7 rebounds per game and 3.3 assists per game.
The Gusties continue MIAC action Saturday night in St. Paul against the University of St. Thomas. Tip-off is pushed back from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. due to the Tommie football team hosting St. John Fisher for an NCAA Quarterfinal game at noon.
Gustavus Men’s Basketball Statistics