Photo Credit - Eli Simonson
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team pulled away in the second half to claim a 74-51 conference victory against Concordia on Wednesday night. With the win, the Gusties improve to 12-7 overall and a 9-5 mark in the MIAC.
Kaleb Feahn (Sr., Waseca) led the Gustie scoring with 23 points, went 5-for-9 on three-pointers, and 9-for-18 from the field. Spencer Swanson (Fy., Waconia) shot 6-of-8 scoring 13 points, while Nolan Malo (Sr., Owatonna) went 4-for-5 on the charity stripe adding 12 points and three rebounds. Additionally, Evan Wieker (So., St. Michael) had a team high six rebounds and 10 points.
The Gusties entered in with a hot start with Feahn and Wieker combining on a 7-2 lead. The Cobbers reset the game four minutes into play, evening the score to 9-9. Feahn and Swanson regained momentum with five points but Concordia came to play, finding their first lead of the game with 11 minutes left.
Adam Biewen (So., Golden Valley), Malo, and Swanson got Gustavus back on track at 25-21 with 3:49 remaining.
The Cobbers retaliated in the final two minutes of the first half, tying it at 27-27 before heading to the locker room. Feahn led the scoring with 10 points, while the Gusties outscored on turnovers 11-1
Gustavus got gritty and came back roaring in the second half with an impressive 14-7 run six minutes in.
Swanson, Jake Guse (Jr., Waseca), Wieker, and Feahn remained consistent on the Gustie offense to maintain the double-digit lead, while Malo rattled off six straight points elevating Gustavus to a 63-44 advantage with 8:21 left.
The Gusties continued to pull away in the final stretch on Concordia’s home court. Feahn scored five of the Gusties 11 points before Swanson and Dawson Kellen (Fy., Pipestone) added on the final six in the 74-51 final. Gustavus outshot the Cobbers 48.4-34.5 percent from the floor and 38-24 in the paint.
Gustavus next hosts St. Scholastica for senior night on Saturday at 3:00.