DAYTONA, Fla. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team battled the SUNY-Cortland Red Dragons on the road Monday night at the Florida Sunshine Shootout. The Gusties won 58-51 over the Red Dragons to improve to 10-1 overall this winter.
In the first half, both teams struggled to score as Gustavus shot 26.1% from the field while Cortland shot 20.0%. The Red Dragons took a six-point lead up 10-4 midway through the opening half, but the Gusties rallied to go up 20-18 by halftime.
In the second half, the Gusties flipped the script and caught fire from the field, shooting 64.7% overall and 88.9% from three-point range. The Gusties scored the first eight points of the half in three minutes, punctuated by a three from
Eli Wolff to put Gustavus up 28-18.
Cortland battled back to pull within five points down 30-25, but Gustavus responded with an 8-0 run to take a 13-point lead up 38-25 with just over 12 minutes remaining.
A 10-2 run by the Red Dragons brought them back to within five points trailing 40-35, but again the Gusties countered with a 9-2 run punctuated by a
Jake Schmitt three to go up 49-37 with 4:43 to go.
Once more Cortland rallied, cutting the Gustavus lead down to four points at 52-48 with just 56 seconds remaining, but the Gusties held strong down the stretch to secure the 58-51 victory.
Myles Barnette led Gustavus with 19 points on 6-for-8 shooting while adding six rebounds and a team-high four steals.
Eli Wolff followed with nine points, shooting 3-for-6 from three-point range.
Carson Koch led the Gusties in rebounds with seven and scored eight points.
Jake Schmitt scored eight points and had a team-high four assists.
Up next for Gustavus is a return to Saint Peter as they host the Bethel University Royals on Saturday, January 3 at 3:00 p.m.
