Men's basketball tops first-place Gustavus

February 3, 2001
Sat. Feb. 3, 2001

MIAC Men's Basketball/at St. Thomas


Univ. of St. Thomas 71
Gustavus Adolphus 66


St. Thomas men knock off first-place Gusties

Senior guard Mychal Brenden had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists and helped host St. Thomas sink 8-of-11 free-throws tries in the final 1:38 as the Tommies (14-5 overall, 10-5 MIAC) held off a spirited comeback by Gustavus (16-3, 12-3) to win 70-67 in MIAC men's basketball Saturday in Schoenecker Arena.

Senior Bobby Johnson scored 21 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, when the Gusties cut a 20-point deficit into a three-point deficit by making six 3-point shots.

Kirk Walberg added 13 points for the Gusties, who saw their MIAC lead slip to one-half game over St. John's (11-3), which won by 12 points at home Saturday over Bethel (10-4).

Mark Buri scored 13 points, Mike Wrobel had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Kevin Fitzgerald added 10 for the Tommies, who shot 52.3% from the field (23-of-44).

St. Thomas led 36-27 at halftime and built a 20-point second-half lead at 54-34 with 11:40 to play.
But Johnson, who missed seven of his first eight shots on the game, caught fire and led the Gusties on 18-4 run that cut the deficit to 58-52 with 4:48 to play.

Gustavus pulled within 64-60 with 49 seconds left on a layup by Johnson, and trailed 69-66 with 16 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Eric Nelson. But Wrobel made the first of two free throws with 14 seconds to go, and the Toms blocked the Gusties' final 3-point shot with :06 left.

see box score here