CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team started its holiday break road trip in southern California with a 77-67 loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Sunday night. The Gusties drop to 3-6 overall while the Stags improve to 7-2.
After an Isaac Douglas (Jr., Montevideo) three-pointer put the Gusties up 3-2 early in the game, the Stags went on a 19-2 run over the next four-plus minutes and never looked back. The Gusties cut the deficit to four (31-27) on a Kaleb Faehn (Jr., Waseca) trey with 4:53 remaining in the half before the Stags closed out the first with a 10-2 run to lead 43-31 at the break.
CMS increased its lead to 15 (50-35) three minutes into the second half, but the Gusties slowly chipped away and were able to bring the score within five (69-64) with four minutes remaining in the game. The Stags were able to fend off the late comeback effort, though, and held on for a 10-point victory.
CMS was strong on the boards, out-rebounding the Gusties 42-21, and made the most of its trips to the free throw line, going 11-for-12. The Gusties shot 46 percent from the field and went 8-for-19 from beyond the arc. Logan Rezac (Jr., Andover) and Faehn led the offense with 13 points apiece. Jake Guse (So., Waseca) was a strong presence down low, contributing 11 points, four rebounds, and five blocks.
Gustavus next faces Pomona Pitzer at 4 p.m. CST Tuesday.