EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The Gustavus men's basketball team opened its 2024-25 season Saturday at the Market & Johnson Blugold Tip-Off Tournament and lost to UW-La Crosse 81-77.
After trading buckets to start the game, UW-La Crosse pulled ahead 10-3 with eight straight points and maintained the advantage for the entire first half, leading by as much as 11 points on four different occasions. The Eagles gained a 24-13 lead at the 9:55 mark, but the Gusties cut the deficit down to two with a 13-4 run, highlighted by a couple
Brady Kienitz three-pointers. La Crosse answered the Gustie run by ending the half on a 13-8 spree for a 41-34 lead at the break.
Gustavus took its first lead since the opening minutes at the 14:30 mark of the second after
Myles Barnette made a couple free throws for a 45-44 advantage. The Gusties then took their largest lead at 51-46 on a layup by
Wyatt Olson and stayed on top until the 10:02 mark. The lead changed sides two more times over the next minute, but an Eagle layup at the 8:46 mark to go up 62-60 proved to be the final lead change. La Crosse expanded its lead to as much as eight points in the final minute and held on for the win.
Spencer Swanson led the Gusties with 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting, while hauling in a team-high eight rebounds. Olson was next with 12 points and three boards. Kienitz (11) and
Jake Schmitt (10) also reached double-figure scoring.
The Gusties shot 45.9 percent from the floor and made 7-of-20 three-pointers. UW-La Crosse shot 48.1 percent and was 8-for-23 from long range. Gustavus won the rebound battle 40-31.
The Gusties are back in action 5 p.m. Sunday against host UW-Eau Claire to wrap up the tournament.
