RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The Gustavus men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker at UW-River Falls Wednesday night, falling to the Falcons 62-60. The Gusties led 27-26 at the half, and tied the game 60-60 with 0:41 left in the second, but couldn't seal the deal in the game's final minute.
UW-River Falls held the lead over the Gusties for 14:45 in the first half, holding as large as a nine point advantage over the visitors.
Dawson Kellen broke through the Falcon defense for a jumper in the paint to give the Gusties their first lead of the game with just under four minutes to go in the first half. The two teams exchanged a one-point lead until a 3-pointer from
Jonah Anderson put the Gusties up 27-24. River Falls added a basket before the break, but headed to the locker room trailing the Gusties by one.
An 11-point run by the Falcons put an end to the Gustie lead in the second half.
Spencer Swanson and
Brady Kienitz hit a pair of threes to claw the Gusties back in the game, 55-54. With 41 seconds remaining in the game, Kienitz sunk a 3-pointer to even the score, 60-60. River Falls added a layup on the next play to bring the score to 62-60. With nine seconds on the clock,
Adam Biewen took what would've been the game-winner from behind the arc, but it bounced off the rim and into the hands of the Falcons.
Spencer Swanson had a chance to tie the game with a pair of free-throws, but missed both at the line with three seconds remaining.
Swanson led the Gustie offense for the third straight game, posting a 19-point 12-rebound double-double. Kienitz was next for the Gusties with 14 points. Gustavus shot 44 percent from the field, but struggled with turnovers, as 24 of River Falls' 62 points came off a Gustie giveaway.
The Gusties, now 0-3, will look to get their first win of the season this Saturday in a non-conference matchup at Bethany Lutheran.
