SAINT PETER, Minn. – The No. 11 nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team battled the Augsburg University Auggies at home Thursday night in the semifinal round of the 2026 MIAC Playoffs. The Gusties took down the Auggies 84-68 to improve to 24-2 on the season and punch their ticket to the MIAC Playoff Championship game.
Gustavus opened the game with a 13-2 run to take an 11-point lead just six and a half minutes into the game. However, the Auggies found their footing and countered with a 10-2 run of their own to cut the Gusties lead down to 15-12 with nine minutes to go in the first half.
Jake Schmitt then hit a three to kickstart a 9-0 Gustavus run as the Gusties took a 24-12 lead through the first quarter of the game. Gustavus continued their strong play through the remainder of the opening half to take a 17-point lead into halftime, up 45-28.
Both teams struggled from long range in the opening half, as the Gusties (2-for-10) and Auggies (3-for-12) combined to shoot 22.7% (5-for-22) from beyond the arc through the opening 20 minutes. Gustavus, however, shot 52.6% overall from the floor while Augsburg shot 34.5% as the Gusties' short-range efficiency powered them to their 17-point lead at the half.
Myles Barnette opened the second half with a layup to open a 7-0 run by Gustavus to take a 24-point lead, up 52-28. With 11 and a half minutes remaining, the Gusties hit a jumper to make it 66-38 to put them up by 28 for their largest lead of the game. The Auggies rallied to cut Gustavus' lead down to 16 points with three minutes left, but the Gusties closed out the game down the stretch to secure the 84-68 victory.
Gustavus shot 47.3% from the floor in the game while holding Augsburg to 38.9% shooting. Both teams struggled from deep as the Gusties shot 26.1% from beyond the arc while the Auggies shot 25% from long range. Gustavus had the advantage in second chance points (17-to-6), points in the paint (52-to-26), and bench points (25-to-8).
Barnette led the Gusties with 21 points on 62.5% (10-for-16) shooting.
Andrew Quam had 16 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
Carson Koch led Gustavus with 10 rebounds in the game.
Up next for the Gusties is the MIAC Playoff Championship on Saturday, February 28. Gustavus will host the conference postseason title game at 7:00 p.m. at Gus Young Court against the Saint John's University Johnnies.
