Box Score | Listen to Archived Game

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's shot just 36 percent (9-25), including 2-for-13 from three-point range, in a 72-64 loss to St. Olaf in the MIAC opener for both teams on Saturday, Dec. 4.

The Oles (6-0, 1-0 MIAC), meanwhile, shot 57.1 percent (12-21) in the second half.

SJU (4-2, 0-1 MIAC) took a 36-35 lead into halftime after shooting 55.6 percent from the field, despite a 1-for-6 performance from behind the arc. The Johnnies were just three of 19 from three-point range in the game.

The Johnnies led by seven with 13:43 left, but went 0-for-7 from the field, including 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, to create a 6:48 drought without a field goal. A layup and free throw by senior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn.) with 6:55 remaining ended the skid and gave SJU a two-point lead. Five straight free throws, four by Tucker Sheley with the help of a technical foul called on Blank, gave St. Olaf a three-point lead 1:27 later.

The home team cut the deficit to two with 3:10 left, but that was the closest they would get.

The Oles' Stu Neville led all scorers with 28 points on 11 of 14 shooting, including 19 points (7-for-8) in the second half. Tucker Sheley followed with 18.

Blank and senior Nermin Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Medical) led SJU with 13 points apiece. Senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) added 12 points, six assists and four rebounds.

Ten of St. Olaf's 14 second-chance points came in the second half. The win was just the sixth for the Oles in the last 47 years (6-37 record) against the Johnnies in Collegeville.

SJU travels to face Hamline for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off Monday, Dec. 6, in St. Paul.