ST. PETER, Minn. - On Wednesday night, the Saint Mary's men's basketball team (6-15) went head-to-head with the tough Gustavus Adolphus (18-3) squad, which remains undefeated at home and in conference. The Cardinals made it a close game with just over a minute left, but fell 65-55. Senior guard
Breyton Buysman reached the 1,000 career points milestone during the game with 17 points.
Khai Branham led the Cardinals with 18 points in their game, connecting on 7-of-11 basket attempts and going 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. Buysman also made a significant impact, contributing 17 points while leading the team in rebounds with 14 to record his second double-double of the season.
The Gusties team began with two quick jumpers at the 19:12 mark to open the game. The Cardinals struggled to keep pace, missing several shots early on, but tied the game 4-4 after a pair of free throws by
Jabari Sawyer.Â
The Gusties pulled away with a series of successful plays with 2:15 remaining extending their lead significantly 33-20. Despite
Jonah Ogunsanya's contributions, including a late three-pointer, the Cardinals faced challenges with missed opportunities and turnovers.Â
Gustavus established a strong presence with a consistent scoring run, reaching a half score of 38 points compared to the Cardinals 20.Â
It was a completely different story In the second half. The Cardinals outscored Gustavus Adolphus 35-27, narrowing the gap despite trailing by 18 earlier. Branham and Buysman were instrumental in closing the gap with consistent scoring, including a three-pointer by Branham at 10:14 44-36.Â
With four minutes remaining in regulation, Sawyer made a key steal, leading to Ogunsanya sinking two free throws to pull the team within three points.
The Cardinals were unable to capitalize on several fast-break opportunities and late shots, allowing the Gusties to hold on and secure a 65-55 victory to sweep the Cardinals in conference.
The Cardinals return home on Saturday to host St. Scholastica at 3 p.m.
