SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team battled the Hamline University Pipers at home Wednesday night in their first MIAC game of the season. The Gusties fell behind by 21 points midway through the opening half, but rallied for a 70-65 victory over the Pipers in their conference opener to improve to 5-1 overall this season.
Gustavus struggled out the gate while Hamline found an early rhythm. The Pipers took a double-digit lead up 13-2 just over four minutes into the game and then built their lead over the Gusties to 21 points up 29-8 with 7:17 to go in the first half. At that point, the tide started to turn as
Isaac Matti hit a three to start a rally for Gustavus. With 43 seconds to go in the opening half,
Eli Wolff hit another Gustie shot from beyond the arc to cut Gustavus' deficit down to just 10 points, trailing 36-26. The Pipers had the final word of the half as they hit a three to go back up by 13, but the Gusties had worked their way back into the game after an ice-cold start.
In the second half, Gustavus continued to fight as they gradually cut into Hamline's lead one shot at a time. With just 6:30 remaining in the game,
Obinna Izuora hit a three to tie the game up at 54-54 for the Gusties as the Lund Center erupted.
Myles Barnette followed with a layup to take the lead for Gustavus; a lead that they never gave back. The Pipers trailed by one score down 61-58 with just under three minutes to go until
Jake Schmitt hit another huge three for the Gusties to put them up by six with 2:38 to go. Up by just one possession yet again at 64-61 with less than a minute to go, Barnette hit a fadeaway jumper in the paint with just 42 seconds remaining. Gustavus made their free throws down the final stretch to secure the 70-65 comeback victory over Hamline.
Barnette led the way for the Gusties with 21 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Schmitt followed with 16 points and had six rebounds and four steals. Wolff scored 14 points to go with six rebounds.
The Gusties' defense was critical in the comeback win as they forced 18 Hamline turnovers while only giving up five, taking a 23-7 edge in points off turnovers in the game. Gustavus also had the edge in second chance points, outscoring the Pipers 16-8.
Up next for the Gusties is a road trip to Winona to take on the Saint Mary's University Cardinals on Saturday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m.
