SAINT PETER, Minn. — The Gustavus men's basketball defeated Hamline for the first time since the 2021-22 season Saturday, winning 81-66 at Gus Young Court. The win clinched the No. 3 spot in the MIAC Playoffs for the Gusties, who will host Bethel Tuesday. The Gusties finish the regular season with a conference record of 14-6 and overall record of 15-10 to tie for second in the league, the best finish the team has seen since the 2011-12 season.
Brady Kienitz was the story of the night for the Gusties, making 8-of-12 3-pointers, two shy of the single game record. Kienitz started the Gusties off with the lead, helping the team jump out to an 11-6 advantage in the first five minutes of the game with two from deep to set the tone. Gustavus took advantage of a slow-shooting Hamline team, building the lead to as many as 18 in the first half, heading into the locker room up 42-24.
The Pipers couldn't overcome the Gustie lead after the break, despite outscoring the Gusties in the second frame. Hamline shot 55.6 from the floor in the second half, but Kienitz just wouldn't miss, getting five more from downtown to help the Gusties extend the lead to 21. Hamline's Austin Holt did all he could for his team, which now has the No. 4 seed in the MIAC Playoffs, scoring 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting to close out the game, but it wasn't enough to slow down the Gusties. Head Coach
Justin DeGrood was able to work in 10 players off the bench, including
Landon Lantz, who celebrated Senior Day as the only graduating Gustie in the 2024 class.
Brady Kienitz led the way for the Gusties with 25 points on 8-for-14 shooting in 29 minutes. The 25 points are a career high for the junior guard, who has scored in double digits in all seven of his last games.
Spencer Swanson nearly added another double-double to his name Saturday, scoring 20 points with nine rebounds.
Wyatt Olson rounded out the top Gustie scorers with 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Gusties will host Bethel Tuesday at Gus Young Court with tip-off slotted for 7 p.m. in Saint Peter. Bethel got the best of the Gusties in both games this season, 80-71 in overtime and 80-68 just two weeks ago.
