Men's Basketball 1/15/05 -- Gustavus Adolphus 63, Augsburg 56 

BOXSCORE

ST. PETER, Minn. (1/15/05) -- The Gustavus Adolphus College men's basketball team fended off visiting Augsburg College 63-56 Saturday afternoon in St. Peter for its fourth consecutive Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory.

The Gusties were led by senior Doug Espenson and junior Adam TeBrake, who each had 17 points, while sophomore Phil Sowden had 11 points and 16 rebounds. Sowden's previous career high for rebounds was 11 in a loss to St. Thomas last season. Sowden's 16 rebounds was the most since Chad Henke in November 2000.

Gustavus improves to 8-5 overall and 6-2 in the MIAC, while Augsburg drops to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC.

The Gusties were down 12-9 at the 10:58 mark of the first half. Gustavus went on a 9-0 run to claim the lead 18-12. Augsburg responded with a 13-7 run in the last 7:41 to tie the Gusties 25-25 at halftime. Gustavus was led in the first half by Adam TeBrake with ten points, while Phil Sowden added six points and 10 rebounds. Augsburg was led by Dan Graf (So., Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) with 10 points.

Gustavus started the first 2:35 of the second half on a 5-0 run (30-25) led by Espenson, who scored all of the Gusties' points during this span. Augsburg responded with a 6-0 run to pull ahead 31-30 for their last lead of the game.

Gustavus built its largest lead of the game (54-44) with 4:59 remaining. The Auggies pulled within 58-51 with 2:38 remaining. However, when Augsburg's leading scorer, Lucas Olson-Patterson (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper HS), fouled out with 3:54 to play, Augsburg would get no closer than seven points the rest of the game.

Gustavus shot 35 percent (21-of-60) from the field, 40 percent (6-of-15) from behind the three point arc, and 55.6 percent (15-of-27) from the charity stripe for the game. The Auggies shot 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from the three point line, and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the free-throw line.

Espenson led the Gusties with 17 points and six rebounds, while TeBrake added 17 points and Sowden tallied 11 points and 16 rebounds.

Augsburg was led by Graf with 16 points, while Olson-Patterson added 12, Zac Rosen (Sr., Plymouth, Minn./West Lutheran HS) tallied 11, and Kevin Keto (So., Forest Lake, Minn.) posted 10.

Olson-Patterson scored in double-figures for the 12th time this season and extended his double-figure scoring streak to 20 straight games, dating back to last year. Olson-Patterson has scored in double-figures in 32 of his 35 Augsburg games.

Gustavus head coach Mark Hanson reached a significant milestone in the game, as he recorded his 292nd win at Gustavus. Hanson tied former head coach Whitey Skoog (1957-81) for most career coaching victories in Golden Gustie men's basketball history.

Augsburg and Gustavus return to action with home MIAC games on Monday (1/17) at 7:30 p.m., with Augsburg hosting St. John's and Gustavus hosting Macalester.