Saint John's travels to play two non-conference games this weekend in Oshkosh, Wis., beginning with Wis.-Eau Claire this Friday, Nov. 27. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wis. The Johnnies then face the host Titans at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 28. - Listen Live (Both Games) | Live Stats (Both Games)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: The Johnnies went 1-1 this weekend as they took on a pair of Division II opponents, St. Cloud State and MSU-Moorhead. Saint John's relinquished a 12-point lead with 10:32 left in regulation and fell to No. 10 St. Cloud State 78-71 in overtime on Nov. 20. The Johnnies missed eight consecutive shots, including seven three-pointers, turned the ball over three times and failed to score during a 6:36 span before SCSU cut it to a one-point game with 3:39 left. Junior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) led all scorers with a career-high 21 points off the bench, 16 of which came in the first half. Sophomore Andrew Latzke (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) followed with 13 points, while junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) posted his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards. SCSU, which was ranked No. 10 in The Sporting News Division II Preseason poll, out-rebounded SJU (0-2, 0-0 MIAC) 43-34 in the contest, including a 20-12 edge on the offensive glass. SJU shot an even 50.0 percent (5-10) from three-point range in the first half, but just three of 15 (20.0 percent) in the game's final 25 minutes. SCSU recorded a 48-22 scoring advantage in the paint and a 25-15 scoring edge off turnovers.
SJU head coach Jim Smith became the second coach in NCAA Division III history and the 27th coach in all of college basketball to record 700 career wins as the Johnnies defeated NCAA Division II MSU-Moorhead 81-79 on Nov. 21. Latzke led all scorers with a career-high 27 points, 21 of which came from behind the arc. Junior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) and sophomore Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) added 13 apiece, while Burtzel tallied nine points, nine assists and eight rebounds. SJU shot a blistering 72.0 percent (18-25) from the field in the first half and ended the game with a .750 shooting percentage from three-point range (12-16).
A LOOK AT THE BLUGOLDS: Wisconsin-Eau Claire (3-0) is currently undefeated on the season after it won the Wartburg Tournament last weekend .The Blugolds were picked to finish eighth in the WIAC preseason poll after finishing fifth with an 8-8 finish in the conference last season. UWEC returns 12 players, three of which were starters, as well as eight of its 10 leading scorers from the 2008-09 season. Senior Jacob Schlub leads four Blugolds averaging in double figures with 12 points per game. The Johnnies are 3-3 all-time against UWEC on the hardwood, but have lost the last three meetings. The last time these two schools met was Nov. 23, 1984 in Eau Claire, Wis. SJU lost, 78-53.
A LOOK AT THE TITANS: Wisconsin-Oshkosh (1-1), ranked No. 24 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, is coming off of an 11-point victory over Lawrence (Wis.) on Nov. 19. Senior D. J. Marsh is currently averaging 18 points and eight rebounds per game. Last season, the Titans went 16-11 overall and finished fourth in the WIAC with a 9-7 record. This will be the third meeting between the Johnnies and Titans, with Oshkosh holding a 2-0 series lead. The last time these two institutions met was Nov. 22, 1997, in Collegeville. Oshkosh won, 70-59.
