Junior Andrew Doble (Sarasota, Fla.) scored a game-high 16 points, including two on a pair of free throws with 1:30 remaining that gave Gustavus the lead for good as the Gusties emerged with a 60-57 win over St. Olaf in Northfield Monday night. The game featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes.
Gustavus jumped out to an 8-0 lead, holding St. Olaf scoreless over the first 5:43 of the game before Mark Bergstrom hit a three-pointer to get the Oles on the board. St. Olaf battled back to tie the game at 10-10 with 10:55 remaining in the first half and took their first lead of the game at 13-12 on a three-pointer by Matt Christensen with 10:07 to play.
Jay Stien (Sr., Arlington, Minn.) gave the Gusties the lead back with a jumper on their next trip down the court, but the lead would be short-lived as Andrew Olson (Sr., Owatonna, Minn.) fouled Ole forward Chad Norberg on a three-point attempt. Norberg converted each of the three ensuing free throw attempts, giving St. Olaf a 16-14 lead.
St. Olaf eventually extended its lead to five points at 22-17 with about five minutes to play, but Gustavus responded with a three-pointer from Robert Schmidt (So., New Germany, Minn.) and a jumper from Tyler Kaus (Jr., St. James, Minn.) to knot the score at 22-22 at the 3:35 mark. The teams would trade the lead down the stretch but entered the locker room for halftime tied at 29-29.
The Oles scored the first six points of second half, taking a lead they would not relinquish until there was less than 14 minutes showing on the clock when Doble tied the score at 42-42 on a pair of free throws.
St. Olaf and Gustavus would match each other virtually bucket-for-bucket over the next 12-plus minutes until, with the Gusties trailing 57-56, Doble knocked down another pair of free throws after being fouled on a field goal attempt with 1:30 to play.
The Oles’ Chad Norberg had his spinning layup roll off the rim on the ensuing possession and the Gusties’ Kane Sivesind hit a jump shot on Gustavus’ next trip down the floor.
St. Olaf had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but Steve Banick’s three-point attempt rimmed out.
Doble finished with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting while also pulling down a team-high seven rebounds. Phil Sowden (Sr., Brooklyn Park, Minn.) was the only other Gustie in double-figures with 10 points. Sowden also contributed six rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals. Kane Sivesind (Jr., Madison, Wis.) and Mike DesLauriers (So., Minnetonka, Minn.) each added nine points.
Bergstrom scored 15 points to lead the Oles, while Norberg and Brady McMahon each added eight.
Gustavus improves to 8-6 overall and 6-3 in the MIAC and will wrap up the first half of the league slate Wednesday against Carleton in St. Peter.