Vannis Smith drives in the paint (Photo courtesy of Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com)
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team dropped its fourth consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road game Saturday afternoon, falling by a score of 85-74 at Hamline University.
The Gusties, now 10-11 overall and 8-8 during conference action, jumped out to a 15-point lead, its largest of the game near the midway point of the first half. A Vannis Smith (So., Lake Crystal, Ill.) three-pointer put the Black and Gold up 21-6 at the 11:27 minute mark.
Gustavus shot 50 percent from the field, converting 12-of-24 field goals compared to a 40.6 percent mark (13-32) from the home team. The Gusties maintained a lead for the majority of the first half until the Pipers claimed a lead late in the first half and to a 33-31 lead into the intermission.
Hamline countered to change the story in the opening minutes of the second half, claiming an 11-point lead off five consecutive field goals, owning a 46-35 advantage through the first three minutes.
Riley Sharbono (Jr., Marshall, Minn.) was fouled and completed a three-point opportunity with just under four minutes remaining to come within five points, trailing 74-69. That would be the closest the Gusties would come, however, as the home team closed out the game on an 11-5 run to salvage a series split.
Despite Gustavus gaining a 38-26 advantage from points in the paint, Hamline owned a 24-13 advantage on points off turnovers. The Pipers shot 49.3 percent from the field while the Gusties went 30-55 for a 54.5 percent mark.
Four of five Gustie starters totaled double figures in scoring, with Smith leading the way, tying a career-high with 17 points off 6-16 shooting including a 3-7 mark from long-range. Kelsey Thomas (Sr., Wiesbaden, Germany) tallied 12 points while Sharbono and Jason Faul (Sr., Prior Lake, Minn.) each added 10. Sharbono led Gustavus with a career-high nine rebounds.
The Black and Gold have a quick turnaround for a fifth-straight, completing a five-game road stretch Monday evening as they head north to Moorhead, Minn. in search of a series sweep at Concordia College.