DAYTONA, Fla. – The Gustavus Adolphus College men’s basketball team battled the Transylvania University Pioneers on the road Sunday night at the Florida Sunshine Shootout. The Gusties defeated the Pioneers 60-57 to improve to 9-1 overall this season.
Transylvania jumped out to an 11-3 lead through the opening minutes of the game. The Pioneers led by as many as nine points up 17-8 with 13:07 to go in the opening half, but then Gustavus started to rally. Back-to-back three pointers by Jake Schmitt tied the game up at 22-22 with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. The Gusties built their lead up to six by halftime, leading 31-25.
In the second half, Transylvania went on a 9-0 run to retake the lead up 39-36. From then on, neither team led by more than five points as the two teams battled neck-and-neck to the finish. Gustavus tied the game 39-39 on a three from Max Buslee and retook the lead up 40-39 on a free throw. The Pioneers tied the game twice more down the stretch, though Gustavus prevented them from retaking a lead for the rest of the game. At 49-49 with under five minutes remaining, Andrew Quam hit a three to give Gustavus a lead they would hold to the final buzzer. The Pioneers managed to pull within one point down 58-57 with 14 seconds remaining, but Eli Wolff responded with a layup to put the Gusties up by three with seven seconds to go. In the final seconds, Carson Koch stole the ball from Transylvania to secure the 60-57 victory for Gustavus.
Schmitt led the Gusties with 19 points and four assists while grabbing five rebounds and three steals. Wolff followed with 14 points. Koch had a team high eight rebounds, followed closely by Quam with seven. Myles Barnette had a team-high four assists and four steals.
Up next for Gustavus is their second and final game of the Florida Sunshine Shootout as they take on SUNY-Courtland on Monday, December 29 starting at 7:00 p.m. CST.
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