MOORHEAD, Minn. – Despite posting a higher shooting percentage, the Gustavus men’s basketball team lost to Concordia 75-63 Wednesday, splitting the season series. The defeat drops the Gusties to 3-14 overall and 3-9 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Cobbers made the difference by converting 9-of-21 three-pointers and 14-of-18 free throws, 13 of which coming in the second half. Gustavus posted a 55.3 shooting percentage, while Concordia converted at 53.1 percent.
Concordia started the game with a 15-9 lead at the 12:26 mark, but a 9-2 run gave the Gusties an 18-17 lead with 6:21 remaining in the first half. For the remainder of the half there were seven lead changes and the home team was on the positive side of the last change and took a 31-30 advantage into the locker room at halftime. The Black and Gold was never able to recover in the second half as the home team maintained the lead and held on for the 12-point victory.
Peter Kruize (Sr., St. Peter, Minn.) led the Gusties off the bench with 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Ben Lies (Sr., Hutchinson, Minn.) posted 10 points and Charlie Krambeer (So., Rushford, Minn.) added nine points, tying a career-high. Jason Faul (Jr., Prior Lake, Minn.) hauled in a team-best seven rebounds.
Gustavus next hosts Saint Mary’s at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals won the first meeting 75-73 on Dec. 10 in Winona, Minn.