ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – Despite holding a lead for most of the first half and early in the second, the Gustavus men’s basketball team lost 82-73 at Bethel University on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Gusties fall to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the MIAC, while the Royals remain unbeaten at 7-0 overall and 2-0 in the league.
Much like their quick start at Augsburg last Saturday, the Gusties got out to an early lead over Bethel at 7-2 in the first three minutes of play. The Royals responded with five unanswered points to tie the game, but Gustavus regained the advantage and held a one-to-five-point lead for the ensuing four minutes. Bethel brought the game to one point at 19-18 with 10:41 remaining in the half, but the Gusties then went on an 11-4 run to take their largest lead of the game at 30-22 at the 5:34 mark. The Black and Gold led by six points with 2:24 to play until Bethel closed out the half with eight unanswered points for a 36-34 advantage at halftime.
Bethel scored the first basket of the second half before Gustavus went on an 8-4 run to regain a four-point lead. That lead slowly faded away, though, as Bethel responded with nine unanswered points over a 2:30 span to take the final lead change of the night. The Gusties erased a seven-point (56-49) deficit and tied the game at the 10:26 mark with seven unanswered points, but the Royals jump back in front with a three-pointer on their next trip down the court and the Gusties never recovered.
Brody Ziegler (Sr., Mankato, Minn.) led the Gusties with a double-double, scoring a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds. Sergio Najera (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) and Chad Poppen (Sr., St. Peter, Minn.) also cracked double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, the Gusties shot 43.9 percent from the floor (29-66), while the Royals shot 49.1 percent (28-57). Gustavus out-rebounded Bethel 41-33, but committed more turnovers at 10-7. The Gusties were also outscored in the paint 38-28.
Gustavus next travels to Macalester College for a 7:45 p.m. game Friday. The Scots (2-6, 0-3 MIAC) lost 78-53 to St. Thomas tonight.