SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team is on the road Saturday taking on Central (Iowa) for a 5 p.m. non-conference game. The Gusties enter the contest 1-2 overall while the Dutch are 1-4.
The Series: Saturday’s game marks the third meeting between Gustavus and Central on the hardwood with the Gusties leading the all-time series 2-0. Last season, the Gusties won 81-75 on Nov. 24 in Saint Peter. Four Gusties reached double-digit scoring led by 13 points apiece from Nolan Malo, Peter Lundquist, and Riley Sharbono. Logan Rezac added 12 points. After trailing by five at halftime, Gustavus shot well in the second half, posting a 57.1 field goal percentage to outscore the Dutch 46-35 in the final 20 minutes.
Scouting the Gusties: After dropping its first two games, Gustavus answered with a convincing 79-66 win over Macalester in the MIAC opener last Saturday. The Gusties average 74.3 points and allow 81.7 per game. They shoot 43.8 percent from the floor and 32.9 percent from three-point range. Gustavus has a +3 rebound margin but has turned the ball over five more times per game than its opponents. Logan Rezac leads the team with 19.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He is shooting a team-best 54.8 percent from the floor and has made a team-high seven three-pointers. Nolan Malo also averages double figures with 11.7 points per game.
Scouting the Dutch: Central most recently dropped a close 96-93 decision at Loran on Tuesday. The Dutch employ a run-and-gun offense, averaging 98.2 points per game while allowing 95.4 points. They shoot 55.2 percent from the floor and 47.5 percent from beyond the arc. They have a +2.8 rebound margin, but have a -4.2 turnover margin. Thomas Spoehr is the team-leader with 27.0 points per game, shooting a red-hot 77.4 percent from the floor, but has not played in the last three games. His 27.0-point average is seventh best in NCAA Division III and his 77.4 shooting percentage is third in the nation. Adam Flinn and Jaden Moody are next on the scoresheet with 19.4 and 19.0 points per game, respectively. Flinn is shooting 62.5 percent from the floor and Moody is shooting 49.3 percent. Caden Mauck averages 14.4 points, shoots 77.1 percent from the field, and averages a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game.