WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team resumed conference play when they traveled to Saint Mary’s on Wednesday night. The Gusties took an 83-70 victory and improve to 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the MIAC. Kaleb Feahn (Sr., Waseca) led the team with 27 points with a season high six three-pointers while Pete Lundquist (Sr., Rochester) made nine rebounds and impressed with five blocks in the win.
Gustavus got on the board with a five point lead after a Lundquist jump shot and a Feahn three-pointer. The Gusties took advantage of a dim Cardinal defense early into the contest as Jake Guse (Jr., Waseca) kept Gustavus on top, tacking on three points in a 15-11 lead in the opening five minutes. Spencer Swanson (Fy., Waconia) put the pressure on Saint Mary’s adding six straight points while going 4-4 from the field for a 21-11 Gustie edge with 12 minutes remaining. At the 6:12 mark of the first half, Gustavus boasted a 34-17 lead before the Cardinals responded with 15-5 run to narrow the deficit 39-32 before closing out the first half. The Gusties held an advantage on turnovers 11-2 and bench points 14-2. Gustavus remained strong in the paint making 8 blocks, with Lundquist making five.
Feahn, Nolan Malo (Sr., Owatonna), Lundquist, and Jordan Schommer (Jr., Merrifield) paced the offense in the opening second half with ten points in five minutes to maintain the Gusties lead, 50-40. The Cardinals defense came alive with 12:26 remaining and persisted to keep it at an eight point separation before taking a timeout. With a three point advantage, Feahn remained consistent for the Gusties, sinking a trio of free-throws to secure the 67-54 Gustavus lead with eight minutes left. A final Gustie 19-16 run brought home the 83-70 conference win. The Gusties starters outscored the Cardinal starters by a margin of 62-33.
Gustavus continues conference play when they host the Hamline Pipers at home on Saturday at 3:00.