NORTHFIELD, Minn – The Carleton College men's basketball team captured its third straight victory, riding a balanced attack and a swarming defensive effort to a 78-66 victory over Gustavus Adolphus College Gusties.
 
The Knights (10-6, 7-4 MIAC) did not shoot as hot from outside as they did just two days earlier in a rout of Bethel, but they still found a way, connecting at a 49.1 percent overall -- their third-best showing on the campaign -- despite going only 3-of-16 from 3-point range (18.8 percent). Carleton scored 48 paint points and hit 19-of-28 free throws to overcome the struggles from distance, and outrebounded Gustavus (8-8, 7-4 MIAC), who came into the game tops in the MIAC in rebound margin. The Knights also racked up 11 steals on the contest and forced 17 turnovers overall.
 
Four Knights notched double figures on the day, as Luke Harris led all scorers with 19 points, while Sam Koelling continued a standout rookie campaign with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Matt Banovetz evaded early foul trouble to tally 16 points and seven rebounds, and Spencer Goetz had another stellar two-way day with 13 points and game-highs of nine rebounds, four steals, and a blocked shot.
 
Gustie star Spencer Swanson sunk an 8-foot fadeaway jumper on the first possession for the visitors, but that 2-0 lead was the only advantage Gustavus would have in the contest. Banovetz and Koelling had layups on the Knights' first two possessions, and the home team did not trail the remainder of the contest.
 
At 18:07 Harris kicked to the corner and a wide-open Koelling drained a 3-pointer to put Carleton up 7-4. The Knights slowly widened the lead, and Koelling sunk a floater at 9:25 to give him 13 early points and Carleton a 10-point lead at 21-11. Koelling's tip in with 2.3 seconds left in the opening stanza gave the Knights a 40-29 halftime lead.
 
With 13:32 still to play, Gustie guard Brady Kienitz hit a fallaway three and was fouled, converting the rare four-point play at the line to make the score 47-42. Carleton shrugged off the brief scare, not allowing Gustavus to score from the field over the next four minutes during a 12-2 run that made the score 59-44. Carleton kept the Gusties at bay over the final nine minutes, with the help of a handful of tough down-low finishes from Banovetz and Harris. The win was the fifth straight by the Knights in the friendly confines of West Gym.
 
Gustavus came into the game leading all of Division III men's basketball in shooting percentage, but shot below their average at 47.1 percent overall. The Carleton defense limited the Gusties to 21.7 (5-of-23) percent beyond the arc. The visitors' shooting woes carried over to the free throw line where they connect at a 59.1 percent clip (13-of-22) in a physical matchup.
 
Four Gusties ended up in double figures, including Swanson on 18 points with Evan Wieker, Brady Kienitz, and Jonah Anderson scoring 10 points apiece.
 
Up Next for the Knights:
Carleton has a week to rest up before facing MIAC unbeaten Saint John's University on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Tip-off in Collegeville is set for 7:00 p.m.