Saint John's (9-6, 6-4 MIAC) travels to face Bethel (7-8, 3-7 MIAC) for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off tonight at the Robertson Center in Arden Hills (Directions). - Listen Live | Live Stats | Watch Live
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's is aiming to end a three-game losing streak this evening and hope to bounce back following Monday's 76-65 loss to Gustavus Adolphus. The Gusties out-scored SJU 18-8 in the game's final six minutes. The Johnnies 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. 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. 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.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel is rolling off of a two game win streak. Most recently, the Royals beat Carleton 70-61 on January 18. Senior Nate Robertson led the team with 16 point and 12 boards recording his second double-double in his last three games. The Royals upset Gustavus on Jan. 16 winning 54-52. Throughout the game the Royals played solid defense holding Gustavus to 34.5 percent shooting. Bethel shot 50 percent in the first half and had a 7-0 run nearing the end of the half. In the second half, the Royals led by as much as ten but then went nine minutes without scoring allowing Gustavus to take the lead. The Royals regained the lead with less than 30 seconds left on the clock and the score would stay that way giving the Royals their second conference win. Senior Chris Vavra led the Royals with 13 points while Robertson added 11 points and 5 rebounds.
BURTZEL CONTINUES HOT STREAK: Though the Johnnies are currently riding a three-game losing streak, Burtzel has continued to stay hot. He tallied 15 points and 13 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season and 14th of his career on Monday night against the Gusties. Burtzel has averaged 15.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game while shooting 63.3 percent from the field the last three games. Burtzel currently leads the MIAC (conference games only) in rebounding (10.6 rpg.), shooting percentage (.709), assists (4.8 apg.) and minutes played (36:00 mpg.).
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's defeated Bethel 67-61 in the MIAC opener for both teams on Dec. 2 in Collegeville. Blank and sophomore Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) both finished with 14 points to lead the Johnnies in scoring, while Burtzel added 13 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Greg Meyer and Daniel Baah led the Royals in scoring with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Saint John's had a 32-22 lead at the half and kept Bethel to just 25.8 percent shooting (8-31). Bethel came within one point at two different times in the second half but never gained the lead. – Box Score
