Saint John's (10-6, 7-4 MIAC) travels to face Carleton (8-8, 4-7 MIAC) for a 3 p.m. tip-off this Saturday, Jan. 23, at the West Gymnasium in Northfield. – Listen Live | Live Stats | Watch Live | Directions
Preview Video:
-Head Coach Jim Smith (3:18)
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's broke open a 34-30 halftime deficit with a 20-3 run in the second half's first six minutes as the Johnnies defeated Bethel 80-67 on Jan. 20 in Arden Hills. Sophomore Andrew Latzke (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, including nine of the Johnnies' first 11 points after halftime. Junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) led the Johnnies (10-6, 7-4 MIAC) with 15 points and 13 rebounds for his ninth double-double of the season and 15th of his career. He also added seven assists. Junior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) added 14 points off the bench and sophomore Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) followed with 12. Daniel Baah led all scorers with 16 points for Bethel (8-8, 3-8 MIAC), but scored just two in the second half. SJU out-rebounded Bethel 37-21 in the contest and held an 18-4 scoring advantage in second-chance points. The Johnnies also forced 16 turnovers and scored an additional 30 points off of them (a 30-14 scoring advantage off turnovers).
A LOOK AT THE KNIGHTS: Carleton snapped its two-game losing streak with a 60-55 win over conference co-leader Gustavus on Jan. 20. Seth Jonker and Bryan Rossett led all scorers with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Carleton, which never trailed during the contest, pushed its largest lead to 10 points at 2:42 remaining in the first half, but a 7-2 run by Gustavus made the score 27-22 at halftime. The Knights, who did not score in the last 4:52 of the game, survived a late push by the Gusties who brought the game within five with 1:10 left on the clock. Gustavus came up empty in the next minute on a pair of three-point attempts and a Rosett block. The Gusties brought the score within three with nine seconds left with a pair of free throws, but Blaise Davis iced the game with a pair of free throws a few seconds later.
THE LAST MEETING: Carleton snapped the Johnnies' four-game win streak with a 66-55 decision on Dec. 5 of this year in Collegeville. Burtzel led the team with 18 points and eight rebounds on eight of 11 shooting. Burns followed with 15 points and five assists. Jeremy Sutherland led the Knights with 20 points, while Rosett posted a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Both teams recorded identical shooting percentages at the half (11-28, 39.3 percent) and at the end of the game (23-58, 39.7 percent). The statistical difference was behind the arc, in which Carleton was nine of 29 (31.0 percent) and SJU was just two of 15 (13.3 percent). The Knights held a combined advantage of 18-4 in points off turnovers and second-chance points. – Box Score
