SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team starts a three-game road trip Wednesday night at Hamline. Tipoff in Saint Paul is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Gusties enter the contest 7-9 overall and 7-4 in the MIAC, while the Pipers are 3-12 overall and 1-9 in the league.
The Series: Tonight’s game marks the 184th meeting between Gustavus and Hamline on the hardwood with the Gusties leading the all-time series 109-74. Gustavus won the first game of this season’s series 88-81 in overtime on Dec. 4. The Gusties overcame six lead changes and seven ties to defeat the Pipers at Gus Young Court. Nolan Malo scored a game-high 22 points, including four three-pointers. Isaac Douglas tallied 15 points and Marten Morem added 13 points off the bench. Benji Lundberg hauled in a team-high nine rebounds.
Scouting the Gusties: Gustavus, having won four of its last five games, is coming off an exciting 92-88 win over Augsburg on Sunday. Through 11 MIAC games, the Gusties average 76.1 points and shoot 44.8 percent from the floor, including a 37.0 percent clip from three-point range. They are the best blocking team in the league, averaging 5.2 per game. The Gusties are also strong the boards, averaging 37.4 rebounds per game, which is second best in the MIAC, and lead the league with 28.5 defensive rebounds per game. Their mark of 16.5 assists per game tops the conference as well. Four Gusties average double-digit scoring, led by Logan Rezac’s 13.5 per game. Rezac also leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 53 assists. Kaleb Feahn averages 13.4 points, followed by Nolan Malo at 10.4 and Isaac Douglas at 10.3.
Scouting the Pipers: Hamline has dropped four of its last five games, most recently losing 92-59 to Augsburg on Monday night. The Pipers average 64.2 points in conference games and shoot 38.5 percent from the field. They haul in 32.1 rebounds per game and average 11.4 turnovers. Three Pipers average double figure scoring led by Michael Dillon’s 13.8 per game. Dillon also leads the team with 34 made three-pointers, 7.9 rebounds, 23 steals, and nine blocks. Luke Siwek averages 11.7 points and Jake Larson is next with 10.0 points.