Box Score | Photos (Dawid Chabowski)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's stayed in contention for a home MIAC Playoff game next week with a 65-62 win over Hamline on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (14-10, 11-8 MIAC), which led by as much as 15 three minutes into the second half, surrendered the lead with 3:36 left thanks to a 6:31 span without a made field goal. The Pipers (15-9, 11-8 MIAC), on the other hand, went on a 13-3 run during that same span.

A layup from junior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) tied the game at 59-59 with 2:09 left before fellow junior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) drilled a 16-footer a minute later to give SJU the lead for good.

Burtzel ended the game with 14 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for his 11th double-double of the season and 17th of his career. The 13 boards moved him into third place all-time on the school's known rebounding list, while the six assists moved him into fifth place with 289. Junior Todd Herman (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) followed with 13 points, while Blank and sophomore Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) added 10 points apiece.

Noah Aguirre led Hamline with 16 points, while Carl Hipp and Dan Andersen collected 14 and 11 points respectively. Both posted 11 rebounds to record double-doubles.

SJU held the MIAC's leading scorer, Ray Brown, to seven points on two of 11 shooting.

The Johnnies shot 40.4 percent in the game despite shooting at a 50.0 (11-22) clip in the second half. SJU was just 3-for-14 from behind the arc.

With the win, SJU head coach Jim Smith improves his career record to 713-497 (.589) in 46 seasons. The Johnnies are now 71-24 all-time against Hamline under the direction of Smith, including a 39-9 record in Collegeville.

The Johnnies end their regular season this Saturday, Feb. 20, at Gustavus Adolphus. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Lund Center in St. Peter.