SAINT PETER, Minn. - Both teams entered the game undefeated in the MIAC standings, it was Senior Day for the Gusties, and with a packed crowd at Gus Young Court, this matchup did not disappoint. The Gustavus men's basketball team defeated No. 6 Saint John's 66-62 Saturday, snapping a 15-game losing streak against the Johnnies while claiming at least a share of the MIAC regular season championship. The regular season title is the 18th in program history and first for the Gusties since the 2011-12 season.
The Gusties started the game down 8-0 and the first bucket for Gustavus was scored by
Spencer Swanson at the 15:06 mark. Following that bucket, the Gusties shook off the jitters and got right back into it, tying the game at 8-8.
The rest of the first half was a physical back-and-forth battle. Both teams traded baskets. There was a total of six lead changes in the first half alone. An and-one basket for the Johnnies lifted them ahead 31-29 with 5.1 seconds remaining in the half and they carried the two-point advantage into the locker room.
Coming out of halftime, the style of play continued for both teams. Gustavus got a stop on the first possession of the half followed by a poster dunk from
Wyatt Olson to tie the ballgame. Soon after, Olson added to his great inside play with a three-point jumper in front of the home student section. When it seemed like the crowd couldn't get any louder, this took the sound to a new level.
A big key to the Gustie victory was their control of rebounds and loose balls. Gustavus out-rebounded SJU 29-25 with eight offensive rebounds. At the 14:30 mark, the ball went loose with bodies diving on the ground, Gustavus came up with the basketball and a layup by
Jake Schmitt brought the score to 42-41. This gave the Gusties the lead and a major boost from the home crowd.
Saint Johns carried a small lead through the majority of the second half. The Gusties finally regained the lead at the 3:41 mark on a powerful drop-step dunk by Olson bringing the score to 56-55. But the Johnnies responded on the next possession to retake the lead. Yet again the game went back and forth.
With a minute remaining, the Gusties led by one. A clutch three-pointer by Schmitt with 35.2 seconds left erupted the crowd as it pushed the Gustie lead to 63-59. A few possessions later, Gustavus came up with a rebound and a long outlet pass to
Evan Wieker who hammered down a two-hand slam with 14 seconds left making the Gustavus lead 66-61. This proved to be the dagger and put the lead out of reach for Saint John's.
Gustavus finished the game shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and held Saint Johns to 5-of-19 shooting from three-point territory. Olson was the leading scorer for the Gusties, contributing 20 points as well as 11 rebounds.
Jake Schmitt was the second-leading scorer with 13 points.
Gustavus travels to Carleton on Wednesday to take on the Knights for its final regular season game before MIAC playoffs start at home on Feb. 27.
