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-Senior Aaron Burtzel (0:12)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) became the 32nd Johnnie to reach 1,000 career points and SJU snapped its five-game losing streak with an 84-68 win over Saint Mary's on Monday, Jan. 17, in Collegeville.
Burtzel led all scorers with 26 points on 12 of 13 shooting. He also added eight rebounds, four blocks and two assists.
The Johnnies have now won 41 consecutive home games against Saint Mary's, including a 37-0 record in the Warner Palaestra.
SJU (7-7, 3-6 MIAC) shot 63.0 percent in the first half but only led by three, 42-39, thanks to six three-pointers (6-8) and eight second-chance points by the Cardinals (8-6, 3-6 MIAC). The Johnnies made 13 of their first 16 shots to take a 10-point lead, 33-23, with 7:38 left in the first half. SMU tied it at 35-35 via an 8-0 run with four minutes left.
Saint Mary's cut it to one point with a jumper from Will Wright on the first possession of the second half, but the Johnnies proceeded to go on a 10-0 run to break the game open. SMU shot just 20.8 percent (5-24) in the second half, including a 0-for-6 showing from beyond the arc, and was 26 of 33 from the free-throw line.
Senior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) collected 15 points, 11 of which came in the first half, and junior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) added 13.
Chris Palmer led the Cardinals with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Wright followed with 19.
The Johnnies travel to face St. Thomas this Saturday, Jan. 22. The game is scheduled for 3 p.m. in St. Paul.
