SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team plays host to St. Olaf on Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. contest. The Gusties enter the contest 7-10 overall and 4-8 in MIAC play while the Oles are 9-7 overall with an 8-4 mark in the conference.
The Series
Tonight’s contest marks the 157th all-time meeting between the two teams with Gustavus currently holding a 96-60 edge. The two teams met on Dec. 12, 2018, earlier this season with the Oles taking a 68-66 victory thanks to a three-pointer with time winding down.
Scouting the Gusties
The Gusties are most recently coming off a loss at Bethel on Monday night by a score of 83-64. They currently rank third in the MIAC in three-point percentage and fourth in field goal percentage. The Gusties have played eight home contests on the season, amassing a record of 4-4. When playing on Gus Young court, Gustavus averages 75.9 points per game which is 5.1 above their season average, but they allow 80.8 points per game, which is 3.4 above their season average. They are led offensively by Riley Sharbono who is averaging 13.6 points per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the field. Nolan Malo has been a strong presence inside for the Gusties averaging 10.1 points to go along with 4.8 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Oles
The Oles are most recently coming off of a 72-66 victory over Hamline Monday. Austin Korba, who leads the team averaging 17.4 points per game on the season, led the Oles with 21 points to go along with five rebounds. Troy Diggins Jr., and Dominic Bledsoe also average double figures on the season with marks of 10.6 and 10.0 respectively. St. Olaf has been solid defensively, allowing just 68.4 points per game which is fourth in the MIAC and an opponent three point percentage of 31.9 which ranks third.
Last Time They Met
NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team fell on Wednesday night to the Oles of St. Olaf by a score of 68-66. With the loss the Gusties move to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in MIAC play.
After trading baskets to start the game and the score even at 4-4, Spencer Tollefson hit a three pointer to put the Gusties up 7-4. Gustavus held that lead the entirety of the first half and extended it to 10 thanks to an Isaac Douglas three pointer with 41 seconds to play in the half that helped the visitors go into the break ahead 41-31.
After the half the Gusties came out strong again starting on a 9-4 run to lead 50-35 with 16:09 to play but that’s when the Oles started battling back. After the Oles went on a huge 29-16 run during the second half, they trailed the Gusties 66-64. The Oles headed to the free throw line and after making the first free throw, they missed the second but got their own rebound and hoisted up a three with time running down and connected with .5 remaining to take a 68-66 lead. On the ensuing inbounds the Gusties were fouled, but missed the front end of a pair of free throws and after purposely missing the second, the Oles secured the rebound, as well as the victory.
In the contest, Sharbono led all scorers with 18 points on 6-11 shooting, including 3-5 from three point range. Nolan Malo added 14 points as well as eight rebounds for the visitors while Logan Rezac had eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
The Gusties shot a higher percentage from the field (46.0%) as well as the three point line (42%) in the contest and out-rebounded the Oles 38-32, but they had 19 turnovers to just 11 from the Oles.
The Gusties will now be off for over two weeks before they take on Minnesota-Morris on Dec. 29 in Morris, Minn. for a 1 p.m. contest.