Box Score | Listen to Archived Game
ST. PETER, Minn. – Saint John's erased a 25-point deficit with 18:47 left in regulation and earned a crucial 96-88 overtime win at Gustavus Adolphus on Monday, Feb. 14, in St. Peter.
The Johnnies (13-10, 9-9 MIAC) shot a miserable 27.3 percent (6-22) from the field in the first half, while the host Gusties shot at a 57.1 percent (20-35) clip to build a 47-24 halftime lead. GAC (12-11, 10-8 MIAC) outrebounded SJU 25-10, including an 8-1 advantage on the offensive glass, in the game's first 20 minutes.
Gustavus posted its largest lead at 25, 51-26, before SJU went on a 24-7 run to bring the deficit down to single digits with 10 minutes left (58-50). The lead was as much as 10 with 3:12 remaining, but the Johnnies ended the half on a 10-0 run. Junior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) sent the game to overtime with an off-balance three-pointer as time expired. SJU shot 69.2 percent (18-26) from the field in the second half.
A steal from senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) on Gustavus' first possession of overtime, followed by another three from Burns, gave SJU its first lead since the game's first basket 1:06 in. SJU proceeded to shoot 66.7 percent (4-6) from the floor and 12 of 13 from the free-throw line (92.3 percent) in overtime to hand GAC its fifth-straight loss. The Johnnies outscored the Gusties 72-41 after halftime.
Burtzel had a monster game with a career-high 32 points, seven rebounds, six blocks and three assists. He was nine of 12 from the floor and 14-for-18 from the charity stripe. Burtzel played all 45 minutes and scored 27 of his points after the intermission, 15 of which came via the traditional three-point play. His 32 points vaulted him from 23rd on SJU's all-time scoring list into 18th with 1,117 career points, five points from passing assistant coach Matt Ohme (2003-07).
Burns followed with 22 points, 20 of which came in the game's final 25 minutes. He was four of nine from three-point range and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Senior Nermin Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Medical) added 14 points, while fellow senior Chris Schwartz (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln) collected 11 points and five boards. The Johnnies were 32 of 40 from the free-throw line in the game.
Seth Anderson led the Gusties with 30 points, while Phil Wirtjes added 21.
The Johnnies held a 20-9 scoring advantage off turnovers, while the Gusties held a 19-4 margin in second-chance points.
SJU travels to Saint Mary's this Wednesday, Feb. 16. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. in Winona.
