COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s basketball team put a scare into fourth-ranked Saint John’s on Sunday afternoon, but ended up falling 75-68. The Gusties drop to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the MIAC, while the Johnnies improve to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the league.
There were three lead changes and five ties in the first 11-plus minutes of the game, resulting in a 16-16 score at the 8:24 mark. A three by Nolan Malo (Jr., Owatonna) gave the Gusties a 19-16 advantage with 7:06 left in the first half and they held the lead for the next six minutes. Gustavus led by as much as eight, twice, in the final five minutes of the first half, before the Johnnies closed out the half on a 13-4 run, taking a 31-30 advantage into halftime.
The Gusties started the second with the hot hand, making their first three shots and a pair of free throws for a 38-31 lead in the first two minutes. The Johnnies slowly crept their way back into the game, eventually tying the score at 46-46 with 15:00 left in regulation, but a three from Kaleb Faehn (Sr., Waseca) put the visitors back in front. Faehn converted another three at the 13:11 mark to give the Black and Gold a 52-46 advantage. Saint John’s once again worked its way back into the game and was able to tie the score at 57-57 with six minutes remaining. Peter Lundquist (Sr., Rochester) made a jumper on the next possession to regain the lead, but the Johnnies answered with a layup and eventually took the lead for good at the 3:48 mark. A three from Benji Lundberg (Jr., Ellendale) with 18 seconds left brought the score to 72-68, but the home team closed out the game at the free throw line.
Gustavus shot 44.4 percent (28-63) from the floor and 36.4 percent (8-22) from three-point range. Saint John’s shot 45.3 percent and made 6-of-15 threes. The Johnnies made a difference on the boards, out-rebounding the Gusties 37-28. Both teams had 11 turnovers.
Lundquist scored a career-high 20 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field. He also hauled in three rebounds with three blocks and two assists in just 20 minutes of play. Faehn finished with 14 points and four rebounds, while Lundberg contributed 12 points and Isaac Douglas (Sr., Montevideo) had 11.
Gustavus hosts Saint Mary’s at 7 p.m. Wednesday for its home opener.