ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Gustavus men's basketball team suffered its second MIAC loss of the season, this time falling to the Hamline Pipers on the road, 84-77. The two teams were tied 37-37 at the half, but a strong second moved the needle in the favor of the Pipers, who sit one spot behind the Gusties in the MIAC standings. The loss drops Gustavus to 8-6 overall and 7-2 in the league.
The Gusties took the lead early in the first half, opening the game with a 16-4 run, getting points from seven different players in a span of four minutes. After the initial Gustie burst, both teams struggled from the floor before Hamline clawed their way back in the game. Hamline outscored the Gusties in the next 10 minutes 26-13 to take their first lead of the game, 30-29. From that point on, the two teams duked it out on the court to end the half 37-37.
Hamline took the lead after the break and never looked back, outscoring the Gusties 47-40 in the final frame. The Pipers shot a blistering 66.7 percent in the final 20 minutes, going 6-for-8 from three and forcing nine Gustie turnovers. While Gustavus was able to get within two points on multiple occasions, thanks large in part to the sharp shooting of
Brady Kienitz, the couldn't catch the Pipers, who didn't miss a shot in the last five minutes of the game.
The Gusties finished shooting 44.8 percent from the floor, making 7-of-16 from beyond the arc, and hitting 18-of-22 from the charity stripe. Hamline scored 22 points off 16 Gustavus turnovers, and finished the game shooting 55.8 percent as a team.
Brady Kienitz, who set his scoring career high the game before, one-upped himself, getting 20 points on 5-for-7 shooting, including four made 3-pointers.
Spencer Swanson added a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while
Evan Wieker rounded out the top-three Gustie scoreres with 12 points.
The Gusties continue their road journey, heading to face league-leading Saint John's on Monday in Collegeville.
