The Johnnies (13-10, 9-9 MIAC) travel to take on Saint Mary's (9-14, 4-14 MIAC) for a 7:30 p.m. game tonight in Winona. – Listen Live | Live Stats/Live Video
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: 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 night in St. Peter. The Johnnies 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 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 and held a 20-9 scoring advantage off turnovers, while the Gusties posted a 19-4 margin in second-chance points.
A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's started its season with an 8-1 record but has lost 13 of its last 14 games entering Wednesday's contest. The Cardinals dropped a 76-55 decision to Carleton Saturday. SMU shot 36 percent from the field, hitting 19 of 52 field shots. Chris Palmer led the Cardinals with 12 points, while Lukas Holland and Michael Burfeind followed with 10 points apiece. Palmer currently leads the team in scoring (17.7 ppg.), rebounding (9.5 rpg.), shooting percentage (.530) and free-throw percentage (.900, 135-150). Tonight's game is the last at home for six SMU seniors, including Holland and Will Wright. The two enter tonight contest with 3,069 career points.
THE LAST MEETING: SJU defeated the Cardinals 84-68 on 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. 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 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. Schwartz collected 15 points, 11 of which came in the first half, and Burns added 13. Palmer led the Cardinals with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Wright followed with 19.
SERIES RECORD: SJU head coach Jim Smith has a 71-20 all time record against the Cardinals, including a 26-19 mark in Winona. Each of the last 16 losses to SMU has occurred in Winona.
LOVIN' THE REDBIRDS: Burtzel is averaging 16 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game with an even .600 shooting percentage in the Johnnies' current four-game winning streak. In seven career games against SMU, Burtzel has averaged 15.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists with an eye-opening .733 shooting percentage (44-60). He has been even more deadly in three games at Winona, averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds and four assists while shooting 79.3 percent (23-29) from the floor.
MIAC Playoff Race: The Johnnies can clinch the sixth and final spot in the MIAC Playoffs with a win tonight, a Gustavus Adolphus win over Augsburg in Minneapolis, and a Hamline win at St. Thomas/or a Bethel win over St. Olaf in Northfield.
