SAINT PETER, Minn. — Home sweet home.

After five straight games on the road to open the season, the Gustavus men's basketball team finally returned home to Gus Young Court, hosting Carleton for the second MIAC game of the season. The Gusties held a six point lead at the half, 39-33, and built it to 17 points in the second to cruise past the Knights 76-62.

The Gusties dominated first half play, opening the game with a six point run to take an early lead. Gustavus held that advantage deep into the first 20 minutes, thanks large in part to the shooting of Wyatt Olson, who went 5-for-5 from the field for 12 points in the first half. The reigning MIAC champs weren't to be counted out, though, as the Knights battled back to even the score for the first time at 20-20. A jumper from Isaac Matti started a 10-2 run for the Gusties, who ended the half with a 39-33 lead.

Carleton emerged with momentum to start the second, going on a 10-5 run in the opening minutes, evening the score twice in that time. Gustavus quickly turned the tables, outscoring the Knights 31-16 in the remainder of the half. 

The Gusties shot 46.3 percent from the floor and were 20-for-26 from the free throw line. Carleton shot 43.1 percent, but struggled from behind the three point arc, hitting just four of 19 attempted threes. The Gusties won the battle on the boards, claiming a 44-23 advantage over the Knights, including 13 offensive rebounds, a new season-high. 

Olson finished the day with a team-leading 23 points, bettering his career best of 21 set just two games earlier. Spencer Swanson, who missed minutes in the second half due to foul trouble, hauled in a team-high 11 rebounds. A total of 10 different players scored a basket for the Gusties. Behind Olson was Evan Wieker with 16 and Swanson and Brady Kienitz each with eight for the Gusties. 

"What really stands out to me today was our effort," said Head Coach Justin DeGrood. "That allowed us to play really solid defense throughout, and relatively good offense in the first half. We weren't as sharp in the second, but we were able to generate fouls which kind of righted the ship from a points standpoint. I think the biggest takeaway for our group today is that in the game of basketball you're not always going to play really well on both sides of the ball. Our defense really carried us throughout the night, and offensively we did enough things well. We have to clean up too many unforced turnovers and some shots we probably want back, but all in all I loved how our guys competed and I thought we played a really aggressive, physical brand of basketball which is what we're striving to do."

Gustavus, now 3-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play travel to Augsburg on Saturday for a MIAC matchup with the Auggies at 3 p.m.
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