Senior captains Trevor Wittwer and Kane Sivesind scored 21 points each as the Gustavus men’s basketball team improved to 6-2 in MIAC play with a 74-61 win at Hamline University on Wednesday evening. The Gusties have now won nine of their last 10 games.
The first half was very competitive with three ties and four lead changes. Trailing 13-12 at the 13:27 mark, Gustavus went on a quick 6-0 run to take a five-point lead at 18-13, however Pipers answered right back with five straight points and the game was tied at 18-18 with 7:01 remaining. The Gusties worked their way back to another five point lead at 29-24 with 1:40 on the clock and then went into the locker room with a four-point 32-28 lead.
The Pipers would get off to a quick start in the second half outscoring the Gusties 9-4 in the first four minutes of play to take a 37-36 lead. Gustavus countered with a 7-0 run which led to a 43-37 lead and the Gusties would not trail the rest of the game. A layup by Andrew Doble at the 7:01 mark gave Gustavus is first double-digit lead of the game at 59-49. The Gusties continued to build their lead and extended the margin to 16 points (71-55) on a breakaway slam dunk by Trevor Wittwer with 2:14 remaining. Gustavus made five-of-eight free throws in the final minute of play and went on to claim the 74-61 victory.
Sophomore guard Jesse Van Sickle joined Wittwer and Sivesind in double figures with 12 points. Gustavus controlled the boards throughout the game finishing with 43 rebounds compared to 24 for Hamline.
Wittwer’s 21 points means that he now needs 26 points points to reach 1,000 in his career, while Gustavus head coach Mark Hanson picked up his 349th career victory. The Gusties will attempt help Hanson collect win number 350 on Saturday afternoon on Gus Young Court against the St. Olaf Oles.