ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team opened MIAC play at defending national champion and 12th-ranked St. Thomas, falling 72-61 Wednesday evening at Schoenecker Arena. The Scots are now 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while the Tommies improve to 4-1, 1-0 MIAC.

St. Thomas shot 53.1 percent from the field, including four three-pointers, while holding Macalester to 34.8 percent in building a 40-21 lead by the end of the first half. A 12-2 run to close out the half, capped by a three from Grant Shaeffer before the buzzer, helped the Tommies take that commanding lead into the break.

The lead was 18, 47-29 with 16:38 remaining, when the Scots used a 14-6 run to cut the deficit to 53-42 midway through the second half. Sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) hit a three-pointer and had seven points in the run. Macalester stayed close and was able to pull within nine, 68-59 with 2:43 left following a conventional three-point play from Gutierrez. But St. Thomas made its free throws, and the Scots missed 3-of-4 from the field down the stretch, as the hosts came away with the win.

Macalester turned things around offensively in the second half, shooting 53.6 percent from the field after halftime while holding the Tommies to 40.7 percent. Gutierrez led all players with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting to go with four assists. Senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) tallied 15 points, five rebounds and two steals, while junior guard Brett Olson (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) added 11 points and a team-best seven boards. Shaeffer paced St. Thomas with 17 points.

Next up for Macalester is another MIAC contest on Saturday, Dec. 3 against Gustavus Adolphus at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.