The Gustavus men’s basketball team shot 60.5 percent from the field on its way to a convincing 66-54 win over Concordia in Moorhead on Wednesday night. The Gusties, who improved to 13-4 overall and 8-4 in the MIAC, were led by junior wing Andrew Olson with 21 points.
Gustavus rebounded from a disappointing loss at Hamline last Saturday with a strong performance against the Cobbers in Moorhead. Coach Mark Hanson’s squad made 26-of-43 shots from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line.
Concordia got off to a fast start in the contest and led 14-4 with 12:23 left in the first half. Gustavus however would outscore the Cobbers 24-6 the rest of the half and take a 28-20 lead into the locker room at the intermission. Trevor Wittwer was perfect from the field in the opening 20 minutes as he was 4-of-4 from the field and 1-of-1 at the free throw line for a total of nine points. Adam TeBrake was 4-of-5 from the field for eight points.
The Cobbers cut the Gustavus lead to six points at 32-26 at the 18:15 mark of the second half, however the Gusties countered with a 7-0 run that pushed the lead to a game high 13 points at 39-26 with 14:44 left to play. Concordia would get no closer than seven points the rest of the game as the Gusties made 7-of-10 from the field and were 6-of-6 at the free throw line in the final 10 minutes of the game. Andrew Olson led the Gusties with 17 second half points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line.
The Gusties placed four players in double-digits in the contest including Olson with 21, Phil Sowden with 12, Adam TeBrake with 11, and Trevor Wittwer with 10.
Gustavus has a bye this Saturday and will then travel to St. Paul to face league leading St. Thomas on Monday.