Saint John's (2-3, 0-2 MIAC) plays host to Saint Mary's (0-6, 0-2 MIAC) for a 7:30 p.m. game tonight at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's fought back but could not overcome a large first-half deficit in a 71-54 loss at Carleton last Saturday in Northfield. The Johnnies committed 11 turnovers and shot just 22.2 percent (6-for-27) in the first half, including 2-for-13 from behind the arc, to find themselves down 42-16 at the intermission. Carleton, on the other hand, shot an even 63.0 percent (17-27) from the floor. Down by as much as 30 early in the second half, SJU clawed back to within 12 (66-54) with just under three minutes remaining. The Knights, however, scored the game's final five points. Sophomore Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) led SJU with a career-high 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Marx was five of 10 from three-point range and grabbed five rebounds. Junior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) added a career-high 14 points and eight boards off the bench. The Johnnies shot 48.1 percent (13-27) with five three-pointers in the second half.
SLUGGISH STARTS: SJU was outscored a combined 2-to-1 (76-38) in the first half of its last two losses (at Augsburg and Carleton). The Johnnies shot just 27.8 percent (15-for-54) from the floor, including 22.2 percent (4-for-18) from three-point land, in the first half of the two games.
A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's dropped a 67-56 decision to St. Olaf on Saturday in Winona. The Cardinals found themselves down 11 (35-24) at halftime but went point-for-point with the Oles in the second half. The Oles led by as many as 17 in the second half, but SMU went on an 11-1 run to cut the gap to seven (48-41) with 11 minutes remaining and came to within four (58-54) on a pair of Michael Burfeind free throws with just over six minutes on the clock. The Oles took control, however, scoring nine of the game's final 11 points. Burfeind and freshman LaMonte Hall led the Cardinals with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Burfeind also recorded nine rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY: Saint John's is 72-20 all-time against Saint Mary's under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 45-1 record in Collegeville. The Johnnies have won each of the last eight meetings and 10 of the last 11 overall. SJU has won 41 consecutive home games against the Cardinals, including 37 straight at Sexton Arena. Smith's lone home loss to SMU was an 80-77 overtime decision on Jan. 31, 1968, in the Old Gym.
LAST YEAR'S SERIES: Saint John's snapped a five-game losing streak with an 84-68 win over Saint Mary's on Jan. 17 in Collegeville. SJU 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. 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 remaining. Saint Mary's cut it to one point 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.
SJU opened the second half with a 20-6 run to earn a 74-67 win in Winona on Feb. 16. Saint Mary's shot 58.6 percent (17-for-29) to build a 38-31 lead at the half. Meanwhile, the Johnnies shot 44.4 percent (12-27) and just two of 10 from beyond the arc. SJU led by as much as eight with 10:32 left, but SMU cut it to two, 66-64, with two minutes remaining. The Johnnies then proceeded to end the game with an 8-3 run to seal the victory.
