Austin bothered Rochester Mayo with its zone defense and upset the Spartans 64-50 in Big Nine Conference boys basketball on Friday at McNish Gymnasium.
Austin built a 28-22 lead and then hung on.
"It was a very disappointing game for us tonight," Mayo coach Shaun Lang said. "We did not respond well to the pressure from Austin's zone. Early turnovers shook our confidence and it snowballed on us. Our challenge is going to be to learn to respond differently when things don't go well."
Lang also tipped his hat to the Packers, who are now 2-2 overall.
"Austin capitalized on our turnovers and played very composed when they got out in front," Lang said.
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Dan Jech led Mayo with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jay Alston added 12 points, and Cooper Ramaker had seven points and seven rebounds.
Austin was balanced, with four players in double figures. Levi Vierkandt had 14 points, Nik Gasner 12 and Gach Gach and Both Gach 10 each.
Mayo, which was just 13-for-21 from the free-throw line, fell to 2-2 in the Big Nine and 3-2 overall. Austin is 2-1 in the Big Nine.
Austin 64, Mayo 50
Austin (64)
Oman Oman 5 points, 1 3-pointer; Noah Brehmer 5 points, 1 3-pointer; Gach Gach 10 points; Nik Gasner 12 points, 2 3-pointers; Zach Coffey 5 points; Dylan Gasner 3 points, 1 3-pointer; Levi Vierkandt 14 points, 2 3-pointers; Both Gach 10 points, 2 3-pointers.
Mayo (50)
Caleb Adams 5 points; Dan Jech 16 points, 11 rebounds, 2 3-pointers; Kyle Wernstrom 2 points; Jay Alston 12 points; Trajan Grimsrud 8 points, 2 3-pointers; Cooper Ramaker 7 points, 7 rebounds, 1 3-pointer.
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Halftime:Austin 28, Mayo 22.
Free throws:Austin 11–17, Mayo 13–21.
Three-point goals:Austin 9, Mayo 5.
