DULUTH, Minn. – The No. 12 nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team battled the College of St. Scholastica Saints on the road Wednesday night in a conference contest. The Gusties defeated the Saints 92-56 to extend their winning streak to 14 consecutive games, improve to 16-1 overall, and continue their undefeated run through the MIAC at 8-0.
St. Scholastica scored the first basket of the game, but that would be the first and only time the Saints held a lead in the game as Gustavus scored the next five points and never trailed again. Up 5-1, the Gusties went on an 13-0 run capped off by a
Myles Barnette jump shot in the paint to take an 18-5 lead just five and a half minutes into the game. Gustavus built their lead up to as many as 24 points in the first half as
Eli Wolff splashed a three to give the Gusties a 39-15 lead with three minutes to go until halftime. At the half, Gustavus held a 47-26 lead after shooting 59.4% from the floor and 50% (9-for-18) from beyond the arc through the first 20 minutes.
The Gusties continued their success in the second half, shooting 51.4% from the floor and 53.9% (7-for-13) from three-point range. An 8-0 run punctuated by a three-point basket from
Jake Schmitt in the third minute of the half put Gustavus up 55-28 with a 27-point lead. A short while later, the Gusties went on a 9-0 run to take a 37-point lead, up 72-35 with 12 and a half minutes to go. Gustavus led by at least 30 points the rest of the way as they closed out the 92-56 victory.
Strong shooting was again key to victory for Gustavus, as they shot 55.2% overall and 51.6% (16-for-31) from downtown. The Gusties only got to the line five times, scoring just two points at the charity stripe, marking the second consecutive game where they scored over 90 points from the field.
Points off turnovers has been a strength of the team all season, and that continued against the Saints as the Gusties outscored them 27-15 off turnovers. The Gustavus bench was a strength as well, outscoring the St. Scholastica bench 34-8.
Barnette led the Gusties with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting and had a team-high six assists in 24 minutes on the court. Wolff followed with 14 points, shooting 4-for-8 from beyond the arc.
Connor Beauchamp led Gustavus with six rebounds in just 12 minutes off the bench while making both of his two shots from three-point range.
Up next for the Gusties is a road trip up to Minneapolis to take on the Augsburg University Auggies, who stand third in the MIAC at 6-2, on Saturday, January 24 at 3:00 p.m.
