Saint John's (13-9, 10-7 MIAC) plays host to No. 4 St. Thomas (20-2, 16-1 MIAC) this Saturday, Feb. 13. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live | Live Stats
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's shot 51.1 percent from the field but committed 18 turnovers as the Johnnies fell at Augsburg, 78-63 on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in Minneapolis. SJU cut a 14-point deficit to one with 12 minutes left in the second half, but Augsburg made nine of its next 19 shots and went 12 of 13 from the free-throw line to outscore the Johnnies 33-19 the rest of the way. Junior Todd Herman (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) led all scorers with a career-high 22 points on nine of 12 shooting. The 20-point performance was his second in as many games. Fellow junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) added 12 points and eight rebounds.
A LOOK AT THE TOMMIES: Junior guard Tyler Nicolai had 14 of his 18 points in the first half as the No. 4-ranked Tommies wrapped up the outright MIAC championship with a 78-55 victory over host Bethel in Arden Hills on Feb. 10. The Tommies, who shot 55 percent from the floor, have won nine in a row. UST has held 10 opponents under 57 points this season and is 50-3 over the last two seasons, including a 41-1 record against conference opponents. Junior guard Alex Healy scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Senior guard Joe Scott also added 14 and sophomore center Tommy Hannon tallied eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.
BURTZEL CONTINUES HOT-STREAK: Burtzel has been a key to the Johnnies success this year. Burtzel is averaging a double-double with 14.5 points (6th in MIAC) and 10.0 rebounds per game (2nd in MIAC). Not only is he leading the Johnnies in scoring and rebounding, he is also leading SJU with 105 assists (1st in MIAC), 34 steals (3rd in MIAC), shooting percentage (.643, 1st in MIAC) and minutes played (35.2, 2nd in MIAC). Burtzel has recorded 10 double-doubles, including two triple-doubles, this season.
NATIONALLY-RANKED: SJU is currently ranked second in all of NCAA Division III (all games thru Feb. 7) in assist/turnover ratio (1.42), is ninth in three-point shooting (.403) and 15th in assists (16.8 apg.). Burtzel is currently 12th in the nation in shooting percentage (.631).
TAKING IT TO OVERTIME: In the last meeting between these two rivals, Saint John's took St. Thomas to overtime but could not hold on in a 70-69 loss on Jan. 16 in St. Paul. The Johnnies ended regulation with a 22-8 run to force overtime. A three-pointer by junior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln), his fifth of the game, tied it at 59-59 with 16 seconds left. Schwartz led SJU with a season-high 19 points, while sophomores Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Burtzel finished with seven points (3-3 shooting) and 13 rebounds. Nicolai led UST with 20 points, while Hannon scored a career-high 14 points, six of which came in overtime. The Tommies used a 20-2 run late in the first half en route to a 37-31 halftime lead. UST, however, shot just 25.9 percent (7-27) in the second half to the Johnnies' even 50 percent (11-22) from the field. Burns' three-point basket with 49 seconds left in overtime pulled the Johnnies within 68-66. UST answered with 13 seconds left as Nicolai dished to Hannon for an inside basket and a 70-66 lead. Burns hit another trey with one second left but time ran out on the inbounds play. The difference was found at the free-throw line. SJU made four of its eight attempts at the charity stripe, but UST was 21-for-28. The loss spoiled SJU head coach Jim Smith's 1,200th career game.
