ST. PETER, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team won an exciting, double-overtime MIAC game, defeating Gustavus on the road, 95-91 Saturday afternoon at Gus Young Court. The win gives the Scots a 6-10 record on the season, including a 2-9 mark in the conference. The Gusties fall to 3-13, 3-8 MIAC.

With Macalester leading, 69-66 following a pair of free throws from senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) with two minutes left in regulation, Riley Sharbono tied the game with a three-pointer. Sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) converted a layup on the next possession, only to have Sharbono answer on the other end to tie the score at 71-71 with 37 seconds left. Neither team scored on their final possessions of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Gustavus used an 8-2 run to lead, 82-77 with 20 seconds on the clock. Ismail hit a three with 11 seconds to play, then Sharbono made 1-of-2 from the line for an 83-80 edge. Off the miss, Gutierrez dribbled into the frontcourt and pulled up from 25 feet, draining a three-pointer to knot the score again and extend the game. It was his only made three-pointer of the game in 10 attempts.

Ismail scored the first four points of the second overtime period to give the Scots the upper hand. Macalester held Gustavus without a field goal until late in the second overtime, building a 91-86 advantage with 25 seconds left. A basket by Austin Goetz and a three from Sharbono sandwiched around two free throws from Gutierrez brought the Gusties to within two, 93-91 with eight seconds left. But sophomore guard Carl Salvino (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt) hit both of his free throws, and the Scots wrapped up their second MIAC win in their past three games.

Gustavus led by as many as 13 points in the first half before Macalester used a 17-7 run to make the halftime score 37-34. A 9-2 run to open the second half put the Scots on top, 45-39 with 15:37 on the clock. Macalester expanded the lead to as many as nine points before the Gusties came back, eventually tying the game and forcing overtime.

The Scots ended up shooting 51.5 percent from the floor for the game compared to 43.8 percent for Gustavus. Ismail made 12-of-18 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free throw line en route to a career-high 34 points. He also added 14 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in his best performance of the season. Gutierrez, who leads the MIAC in scoring with 21.7 points per game, notched 25 points and six assists. Senior guard Dylan Kilgour (La Crescenta, Calif./Crescenta Valley) hit three three-pointers and finished with 12 points. Sharbono led Gustavus with 32 points while making six threes.

Macalester hosts St. Thomas in another MIAC battle on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.