NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sophomore Dominic Bledsoe sank a game-winning three-pointer with a half second remaining in the contest to give the St. Olaf men's basketball team the lead and a 68-66 victory over Gustavus Adolphus in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) match-up at Skoglund Center on Wednesday evening.

First year Carter Uphus found Bledsoe open on the perimeter, as he hit the three-pointer to take the second Ole lead of game. On the ensuing inbound, the Gusties drew a foul, sending Nolan Malo to the line. The forward missed both free-throws, as Uphus batted the ball clear of the basket to end the game.

The Oles have now won five-straight games and have won 12 of the past 13 meetings with the Gusties dating back to 2013.

Senior Austin Korba led St. Olaf with a team-high 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Junior Noah Beck added 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while junior Troy Diggins added 11 points and four rebounds.

The Oles scored early with a basket from Bledsoe and the Gusties scored the next two baskets, taking a 4-2 lead, as they would not surrender this lead again until the final moments of the game.

 After St. Olaf was down 14-6, junior Travis Fauchald hit back-to-back baskets to make the score 16-11 with 13:36 left in the first half. Riley Sharbono drained a three-pointer, giving the Gusties a nine-point lead midway through the half.

Senior Ben Scheffley found Beck inside for a basket, bringing the Oles within four points as seven minutes remained in the half. After a basket from Issac Douglas, the Gusties held a 10-point, 41-31, lead at the end of the opening half.

With 11 minutes remaining in the game, Korba, off an assist by Bledsoe, drove to the basket and converted a three-point play. Korba's basket cut the Gustie's lead to seven.

A Diggins Jr. layup with 3:07 left in the game tied the game at 62-62, but the Gusties regained the lead after a Sharbono three-point play. Sharbono sank two free-throws as Gustavus held a 66-62 lead with 1:50 left in the contest.

A drive to the basket by Beck cut the lead to two at 66-64 with 55 seconds remaining. Uphus was fouled underneath the basket and made one of two free-throws to cut the lead to one with only 15 seconds left.

On his second attempt, the ball bounced off the rim, but Diggins Jr. deflected the ball back to Uphus, as he found Bledsoe for the game-winning three-pointer, setting up the Oles victory.

With .5 seconds left on the game-clock, the Oles committed a foul, sending Malo to the line. After two missed free throws Uphus tapped the rebound to Bledsoe and the clock expired.

Gustavus tallied 19 turnovers compared to St. Olaf's 11, while St. Olaf had 14 assists contrasted to the Gustie's 11. The Oles outscored Gustavus 38-28 in the pain, and 14-0 in transition.

St. Olaf is back in action on Wednesday,Jan. 2nd, as they travel to Arden Hills to face the Bethel Royals in a MIAC contest beginning at 7 p.m.