COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team couldn’t contain the hot shooting of Saint John’s Saturday afternoon, losing 90-65 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest. The Johnnies shot 59.3 percent from the field, including 57.7 percent (15-26) from three-point range in the decisive victory. The loss drops the Gusties to 5-18 overall and 5-13 in the MIAC, while the Johnnies improve to 15-7 overall and 11-6 in the league.
Saint John’s made its first four shots in the game for a 10-0 lead and never looked back. The Gusties cut the deficit to six (10-4) five minutes into the contest, but the home team responded with eight unanswered points and took a 49-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Johnnies’ largest lead of the game was 36 as they claimed the series sweep.
Vannis Smith (Fy., Crystal Lake, Ill.) led the Gusties off the bench with a career-high 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Schuyler Thompson (Jr., Millville, Minn.) hauled in a career-high eight rebounds. David Stockman and Jubie Alade led the Johnnies with 15 points apiece.
Saint John’s out-rebounded Gustavus 34-29 and held the visitors to 42.9 percent shooting.
Gustavus next travels to Bethel for a 7 p.m. game Monday in Arden Hills, Minn.