Box Score | Photos (John Biasi/Dawid Chabowski)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 10 Wis.-Stevens Point defeated Saint John's 81-57 in the season opener for both teams on Sunday, Nov. 15, in Collegeville.

The Pointers scored 15 points off the Johnnies' eight turnovers in the first half to build a 40-19 at halftime. SJU shot 22.7 percent (5-22) from the field in the game's first 20 minutes.

The Johnnies doubled their first-half output in both points (38-19) and shooting percentage (46.7-22.7 percent) in the second half.

Sophomore Andrew Latzke (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) led SJU with 13 points on five of 10 shooting, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc. Junior Nermin Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Medical) added 11, while junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) tallied eight points and 10 rebounds.

The Pointers' Jerrel Harris led all scorers with 19. UWSP held a 38-10 scoring advantage in the paint and a 15-2 scoring edge off turnovers.

The Johnnies continue non-conference action by traveling to face St. Cloud State this Friday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud. SJU head coach Jim Smith is still one win shy of 700 for his career with a 699-488 career record in 46 seasons.