ST. PETER, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team was outscored by 19 points in the second half in a 91-63 loss at MIAC-leading Gustavus Wednesday evening at Gus Young Court. The Scots are now 6-13 overall and 3-7 in conference play, while the Gusties (16-3) remain unbeaten in the MIAC with a 10-0 record.

The game started well for Macalester, with junior guard Eric Wentz (Minot, N.D./Minot) scoring 10 points over the first four minutes to put the Scots ahead, 12-7. A 16-6 Gustavus run gave the hosts a 23-18 lead midway through the half. Later in the half, the Gusties answered a three-pointer by first year guard Logan Davis (Kensington, Md./Bethesda Chevy Chase) with an 8-2 spree that made the score 42-32 with two minutes left in the half. Junior forward Ryan Brush (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) drained a three before a basket by Jake Schmitt made the halftime score 44-35 Gusties. Macalester shot 52.0 percent from the field, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, in the first half.

The lead remained at nine, 47-38 two minutes into the second half when Gustavus went on a 14-3 run for a 61-41 advantage at the 12:40 mark. Baskets by Brush, Wentz and senior guard Robert Grace IV (Minneapolis, Minn./The Blake School) and a three from senior guard Marcus Crawford (Edina, Minn./Edina) cut the deficit to 13, 63-50 with 10:40 to play. Over the next nine minutes, Gustavus would put the game out of reach with a lethal 28-7 run that included four three-pointers from Eli Wolff for a 91-57 lead. Macalester scored the final six points, with first year guard Joaquin Aguillon (San Rafael, Calif./The Branson School) tallying four points.

Gustavus held a lopsided 41-18 rebounding advantage and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second chance points. Wentz led the Scots with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Brush finished with 13 points and a team-best six rebounds, while Davis came off the bench to score eight points. First year guard JP Kerrigan (Atherton, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) registered four points, five boards, five assists and four steals. Wyatt Olson led Gustavus with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Macalester hosts St. Scholastica on Saturday, Feb. 1 in a key conference game. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.