NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Visiting Gustavus Adolphus College shot 67.8 percent from the field on its way to a 97-59 victory over the St. Olaf College men's basketball team in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) opener for both teams on Tuesday night at Skoglund Center.

Gustavus (2-3, 1-0 MIAC) shot 40-for-59 from the field, including 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) from behind the arc to blow past St. Olaf (1-3, 0-1 MIAC). Five Gusties scored in double figures in the victory, as the visitors racked up 54 points in the paint and shot over 65.0 percent in both halves.

Senior Connor Martin and junior Addison Metcalf led the Oles with 11 points apiece, while first year Jachin Mertes had the top-scoring game of his young career with 10 points off the bench. St. Olaf was just 4-for-19 (21.1 percent) from three-point range and 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from the free-throw line.

St. Olaf got a jumper from Martin followed by a three-pointer by fifth-year senior Josh Albers to take a 5-3 lead two minutes in, but Gustavus scored 13 of the next 15 points over the next five minutes to open up a 16-7 advantage. The Oles were down by just five at 20-15 midway through the opening half before the Gusties pushed their lead to 49-30 at halftime.

Gustavus shot 70.0 percent (21-for-30) from the field in the opening 20 minutes and got a combined 35 points from Spencer Swanson and Wyatt Olson before the break. Swanson finished with a game-high 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting for the Gusties, while Olson added 14. Carson Koch (11), Brady Kienitz (10), and Adam Biewen (10) were also in double figures for the visitors.

In the second half, Gustavus did not cool off much, shooting 65.5 percent (19-for-29) from the field and 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from behind the arc. The Gusties did not lead by fewer than 17 points and were up by as many as 40 down the stretch.

After a break for Thanksgiving, St. Olaf heads to Macalester College for a 7 p.m. start on Wednesday, Nov. 29.