Box Score | Listen to Archived Game

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's was 18 of 22 from the free-throw line in the second half, including 11-for-14 in the final two minutes as the visiting Johnnies defeated Hamline 80-72 on Monday, Dec. 6, in St. Paul.

Senior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) led five Johnnies (5-2, 1-1 MIAC) in double figures with 20 points, thanks to a 10-for-12 performance from the charity stripe in the second half. Juniors Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) followed with 17 and 14 points, respectively. 

Senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) totaled 13 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for his first double-double of the season and 18th of his career. His six assists moved him past Joe Deignan (1991-93) for second on the school's all-time assist list with 335 for his career. He is now 32 behind Matt Ohme (2003-07) for the school record.

Carl Hipp led all scorers with 23 points and added nine boards for the Pipers (2-3, 0-2 MIAC).

SJU shot 54.2 percent in the second half and held a 35-34 advantage on the glass. The Johnnies' three-point shooting woes came to a halt, as the visitors were five of 12 (41.7 percent) from beyond the arc. SJU entered the game shooting just 17.1 percent (6-35) from three-point land the last two games. Hamline, meanwhile, made only one of its 16 three-point attempts (6.3 percent) in the game and shot 38.3 percent overall.

The two teams combined for 51 fouls in the contest (SJU: 30, HU: 21).

The Johnnies are now 72-24 all-time against Hamline under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, who earned his 718th career win (718-501 career record) on the night.

SJU returns home to host Bethel this Wednesday, Dec. 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville.