ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team used tough defense and a strong inside game to defeat Gustavus, 80-72 Saturday afternoon in the Leonard Center. The Scots improve to 6-12 overall and 3-10 in the conference with the win, while the Gusties drop to 8-10, 8-5 MIAC.

Gustavus, who entered the game tied for fourth in the MIAC, jumped out to a 15-3 lead. A pair of baskets by junior forward Jackson Henningfield (Lake Mary, Fla./Lyman) and a three-pointer from junior guard Tyler McFarland (Denver, Colo./New Hampton School) brought Macalester to within five, 15-10 with 10:32 left in the half. The Gusties pushed the lead back up to as many as 10 points before back-to-back threes by sophomore guard Eric Sathy (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead) helped the Scots cut the deficit to 26-23 with five minutes on the clock. Gustavus bounced back and took a 39-31 advantage at the break. Macalester shot just 31.4 percent from the field in the first half but were able to grab nine offensive rebounds.

Gustavus maintained control of the game over the first nine minutes of the second half, as a three from Kaleb Feahn put the visitors ahead, 60-50 with 11:07 to play. An 11-4 run that included a three-pointer by Sathy and four points from sophomore center Shane Anderson (Fargo, N.D./Davies) brought the Scots to within three, 64-61 with eight minutes left. After a three from Nolan Malo put the Gusties on top, 67-61, a basket by McFarland and a conventional three-point play from junior guard Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) made it a one-point game, 67-66.

Isaac Douglas answered with Gustavus' 10th three of the game, but baskets by Anderson and Henningfield tied the score at 70-70 with 3:16 remaining. After two defensive stops by the Scots, Ramos was fouled and made both free throws to give Macalester its first lead since the opening two minutes of the game, 72-70 with 2:30 on the clock. Another stop was followed by a Ramos basket, then a missed shot by Gustavus allowed McFarland to score on a layup for a 76-70 lead with 42 seconds left. The Gusties came within four, but Henningfield made two free throws and Sathy wrapped up the win with a steal and a layup for an 80-72 victory.

The Scots shot 56.7 percent from the field and scored 34 points in the paint in the second half. Solid defense led to just five field goals by Gustavus over the final 11 minutes of the game.

Sathy went 5-of-8 from three-point range en route to a career-high 24 points to go with five rebounds and two steals. Anderson tallied 18 points, six boards and two steals, while Ramos registered career bests of eight assists and 10 rebounds to go with seven points. McFarland finished with 15 points and five rebounds, and Henningfield added 14 points and eight boards. Feahn led the Gusties with 16 points.

The Scots look to win back-to-back conference games for the first time this season when they travel to face Saint Mary's University on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Winona, Minn.

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