Box Score | Photos (Dawid Chabowski/Brace Hemmelgarn)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Gustavus Adolphus out-scored Saint John's 18-8 in the game's final six minutes to defeat the Johnnies 76-65 on Monday, Jan. 18, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (9-6, 6-4 MIAC) had an opportunity to take the lead with 5:49 left in regulation, but junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) missed both free throws to leave the score at 58-57 in favor of Gustavus (11-4, 9-1 MIAC). The Gusties then went on a 10-0 run for the next 3:32; a stretch in which SJU went 0-for-6 from the floor and 0-for-3 from the free-throw line.

Junior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) led all scorers with 18 points, all of which came from behind the arc. Burtzel tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season and 14th of his career.

Ryan McPartland and Phil Wirtjes scored 15 points apiece to lead GAC, while Jesse Van Sickle added 14.

The result was eerily similar to the last meeting between the two teams on Feb. 23 of last year. In that game, Gustavus made six of its last eight shots to erase a seven-point deficit with less than six minutes remaining to post a 71-68 win in the MIAC Playoff Quarterfinals. SJU missed eight of its last nine shots during that same span.

The Johnnies travel to face Bethel this Wednesday, Jan. 20. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Robertson Center in Arden Hills.