Box Score | Listen to Archived Game

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University senior Sam Blank (Rollingstone, Minn./Winona Cotter) made each of his first nine shots, including 7-for-7 from three-point range, to lead the Johnnies to an 85-59 win over Augsburg on Saturday, Feb. 5, in Collegeville.

Blank ended the game 9-for-10 from the field, including seven of eight from behind the arc, and a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line for a career-high total of 27 points.

SJU (10-10, 6-9 MIAC) shot 60.0 percent (18-30) from the floor, including six of seven from three-point land, to the Auggies' 29.6 percent (8-27) in the first half to build a 47-24 halftime lead. Augsburg (12-9, 7-9 MIAC) shot 28.8 percent for the game. The Johnnies led by as much as 33 with 12:29 remaining.

Senior Nermin Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Medical) followed Blank with 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks, while junior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) added 11 on 4-for-5 shooting (3-3 three-point).

Senior Aaron Burtzel (Cold Spring, Minn./Rocori) collected nine points and seven rebounds to pass Ryan Lieser (2003-07) for 26th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,062 points. He needs four to pass Kevin Coleman (1968-72) for 25th and 11 to pass Larry Bassett (1988-92) for 24th. Bassett owns SJU's record for the most three-pointers in a game with 11 (at Macalester; Feb. 12, 1992).

Cory Polta and Tyler Schmidt led the Auggies with 12 point apiece.

With the win, head coach Jim Smith improves his career record to 723-509 in 47 seasons at SJU. He now needs two victories to pass longtime DePaul head coach Ray Meyer for 23rd in college basketball history.

The Johnnies travel to face Macalester this Wednesday, Feb. 9. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in St. Paul.