SAINT PETER, Minn. – The No. 7 nationally ranked Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team battled the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders at home Saturday night in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gusties rallied from down 18 to win 90-72 over the Crusaders, improving to 27-2 on the season and advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003.
Gustavus built up a 17-12 lead in the first five minutes, but then UMHB caught fire. The Crusaders went on a 29-6 run to build a lead of 18 points up 41-23 with two and a half minutes to go in the opening half.
The Gusties responded with a 10-0 run in the final minutes of the half to cut Mary Hardin-Baylor's lead down to eight, trailing 41-33 at halftime.
Gustavus kept on battling in the second half, cutting the Crusaders' lead down to one point at 44-43 three minutes into the half. UMHB held on to their narrow lead until the Gusties broke through on a
Jake Schmitt three to go up 60-59 with just under 11 minutes to go.
The Crusaders answered right back with a bucket of their own, but Gustavus responded with a 13-2 run to go up 73-63 with just over seven minutes to play.
Mary Hardin-Baylor cut the Gusties' lead back down to five at 75-70, but Gustavus closed out the game on a 15-2 run to take the 90-72 victory and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.
The Gusties continued their success in points off turnovers which has been a key for the team all year, outscoring the Crusaders 21-4 in that stat. Points in the paint were critical to the second half turnaround as well as Gustavus outscored UMHB in that category 42-26 and 30-12 in the second half alone.
Myles Barnette led the Gusties with 26 points, highlighted by a second half in which he scored 18 points on 6-for-10 shooting in the final 20 minutes.
Eli Wolff followed with 19 points, shooting 55% (5-for-9) from three-point range.
Up next for Gustavus is a road trip to Chicago to take on the No. 6 University of Chicago Maroons in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, March 14 at 4:00 p.m.
