Peter Kruize scored a career-high 17 points against Saint John’s.
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Despite leading midway through the second half, the Gustavus men’s basketball team was unable to hold on to the advantage, while sending Saint John’s to the free throw line 26 times in an 87-83 loss. With the loss, the Gusties fall to 5-10 overall and 2-8 in the MIAC, while the Johnnies improve 12-3 overall and 7-3 in the league.
“In a lot of ways I thought we played pretty well the whole game,” Head Coach Mark Hanson said. “We just put them at the free throw line too much. That’s the stat that I expected to stand out.”
Both teams shot well from the field as the Gusties posted a 53.1 percentage (34-64) to the Johnnies’ 53.8 percent (28-52). The big difference was Saint John’s ability to get to the charity stripe as it made 22-of-26 free throws compared to Gustavus’s 6-for-9 clip.
The Gusties started the game on a good note, jumping ahead 18-11 in the first five minutes. Saint John’s charged back into the contest with consecutive three-pointers, but Gustavus didn’t lead go of its lead. The Gusties responded with a 7-2 run to take a 25-19 advantage at the 11:10 mark. The Johnnies once again fought back with six unanswered points to tie the game and eventually took a 31-29 lead at the 5:42 mark. From that point on, the Gusties controlled the pace of play for the remainder of the half, ending the first on a 15-7 run for a 44-38 lead at halftime.
Gustavus maintained its lead to start the second half until a three-pointer by Saint John’s gave the home team a 49-48 advantage three minutes in. The two squads traded the lead three times over the next minute, but it was the Gusties that regained the lead with a 12-3 run for a 62-55 advantage at the 12:30 mark. Gustavus took its largest lead of the game at 66-57 on a jumper by Brody Ziegler (Sr., Mankato, Minn.). Over the next four minutes, the Johnnies were able to go on a 15-2 run to take an advantage they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Gustavus stayed within four points during the final three minutes, but wasn’t able to get back on top.
For the second straight game, Gary Cooper (Sr., Detroit, Mich.) led the Gusties offense with 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and a game-high seven assists. Peter Kruize (Jr., St. Peter, Minn.) had a productive night off the bench, scoring a career-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Kruize and Cooper led the team with six rebounds apiece.
Mitchell Kuck of Saint John’s led all scorers with 27 points.
Gustavus returns home Saturday for a 1 p.m. tipoff against Augsburg.
Go Gusties. Proud of Peter B and his l7 points and six rebounds. Keep up the good work. Uncle Wally and Aunt Ellen,Wally a former Gustie.