Gustavus jumped off to a quick start leading 15-9 after a jumper from Adam TeBrake with 16:11 left in the first half. With 13:18 remaining, Doug Espenson dropped in a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give the Gusties a double-digit lead (22-12). During the next 6:09, Gustavus went on a 12-2 run to extend its lead to 34-14. However, St. Thomas ended the final 7:09 of the first half on a 20-6 run to pull within six (40-34) at the intermission.
The Tommies pulled within three points (49-46) with 15:20 to play in the second half. However, the Gusties countered with a 25-12 run in the next 8:56 to lead 74-58 at the 6:24 mark. St. Thomas pulled within nine points during the final 5:11, but the Gusties made 77.7 percent (14-of-18) from the free throw line to ice the victory. TeBrake led the Gusties in the second half with 18 points, including 13-of-14 from the charity stripe.
Gustavus shot an impressive 52.1 percent (25-of-48) from the field, including 61.9 percent (13-of-21) from the three point arc and 79.4 percent (27-of-34) from the charity stripe. St. Thomas also shot well from the field firing 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the field, 40 percent (6-of-15) from three point land, and 52.2 percent (12-of-23) from the line.
Andrew Olson led the Gusties offensively with a career high 27 points. Olson's previous career high was 17 in an 81-75 loss to Carleton on January 3. Prior to Monday night, Olson was averaging only 8.4 points a game. Olson was on fire Monday shooting 7-of-9 from outside the arc to improve his season statistics to 50 percent (37-of-74) from three point range. Adam TeBrake contributed 23 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while Doug Espenson added 17 points and five boards and Phil Sowden tallied 12 points, 4 boards, and 7 assists for the Gusties. Joey Shimek led the Tommies with 25 points and seven boards, while Sean Sweeney posted 12 points and six rebounds and Isaac Rosefelt tacked on 13 points and nine boards.
After starting league play 2-2, the Gusties have won their last nine games to improve their record to 11-2 and lead the MIAC by a half-game over the Tommies. Gustavus avenged a 62-59 loss against St. Thomas in St. Paul on December 8.
Newspaper Box Score St. Thomas vs Gustavus Adolphus 1/31/05 7:30pm at St. Peter, MN GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS 90, ST. THOMAS 80 ST. THOMAS (11-7 (11-3 MIAC)) Joey Shimek 12-17 1-3 25; Isaac Rosefelt 4-9 5-13 13; Neal Anderson 5-7 0-1 12; Sean Sweeney 4-10 2-2 12; Bryan Schnettler 2-6 2-2 8; Alex Weaver 4-10 0-0 8; Danny Peterson 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 31-60 12-23 80. GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS (13-5 (11-2 MIAC)) Andrew Olson 8-11 4-6 27; Adam TeBrake 4-10 13-14 23; Doug Espenson 6-16 2-4 17; Phil Sowden 5-7 2-2 12; Trent Hollerich 1-2 1-2 4; Jay Stein 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-48 27 -34 90. St. Thomas.................... 34 46 - 80 Gustavus Adolphus............. 40 50 - 90 3-point goals-St. Thomas 6-15 (Bryan Schnettler 2-4; Neal Anderson 2-4; Sean Sweeney 2-3; Alex Weaver 0-4), Gustavus Adolphus 13-21 (Andrew Olson 7-9; Doug Espenson 3-6; Adam TeBrake 2-4; Trent Hollerich 1-2). Fouled out--St. Thomas-None, Gustavus Adolphus-Phil Sowden. Rebounds-St. Thomas 29 (Isaac Rosefelt 9), Gustavus Adolphus 31 (Adam TeBrake 8). Assists-St. Thomas 17 (Bryan Schnettler 4), Gustavus Adolphus 20 (Phil Sowden 7). Total fouls-St. Thomas 22, Gustavus Adolphus 20. A-1408