The Johnnies (9-5, 5-4 MIAC) play host to Augsburg (10-4, 7-2 MIAC) for a mid-season showdown at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Sexton Arena. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's snapped a two-game skid with a 68-50 win over Macalester Jan. 16 in Collegeville. The two teams combined for a cool 32.7 percent (18-for-55) from the floor in the first half but combined for a 58.5-percent (30-for-51) performance in the second. The Scots doubled their first-half shooting percentage (28.0 percent) in the second half (58.3 percent) but could not keep up with the Johnnies' 59.3-percent showing and 17-8 advantage on the glass in the game's final 20 minutes. Senior Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) led the Johnnies with a career-high 27 points and added five rebounds. Senior Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and junior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) collected 12 points apiece. Neumann missed his first career double-double by one rebound and added a career-high six assists. The two teams combined for a .250 three-point percentage (6-for-24) in the game.

A LOOK AT THE AUGGIES: Cory Polta scored a game-high 22 points to lead Augsburg to a 66-52 win over Carleton Monday night. He connected on 10 of 18 from the floor, while adding six rebounds and a pair of blocks. Andy Grzesiak-Grimm posted his fourth-consecutive double-double, scoring 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Augsburg shot 48.9 percent (22-of-45) for the game and dominated on the boards, outrebounding Carleton 34-16 and posting a 36-16 advantage in points in the paint. Grzesiak-Grimm currently leads the MIAC (all games) in both shooting percentage (.638) and rebounding (9.0 rpg.).

EARLIER THIS SEASON: Saint John's shot just 35.1 percent from the floor, including 3-for-15 from behind the arc, in a 60-45 loss at Augsburg in the conference opener for both teams Nov. 30 in Minneapolis. Augsburg went on a 19-5 run to build a 25-11 lead with just under seven minutes remaining. SJU responded with an 11-5 run, but the Auggies ended the half with four straight points. Saint John's cut the deficit to 10 (37-27) 2:26 into the second half before things unraveled. The Johnnies went exactly five minutes between baskets as the Auggies stretched the lead to as much as 25. Barmore led the Johnnies with 12 points, while Burns and sophomore Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) added six points apiece. Sophomore Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) added five points and seven rebounds. Hines led the Auggies with 18 points, including 11 in the first half. Andy Grzesiak-Grimm and Cory Polta combined for 24 points and 18 rebounds on the night.

FREE-THROW SUCCESS CONTINUES: The Johnnies were 11 of 13 from the free-throw line Monday night against Macalester to improve to .823 percent (107-for-130) at the line in the last six games. Burns' home streak for consecutive made free throws ended at 31. SJU currently leads the MIAC (all games) with a .764 free-throw percentage (194-254). Augsburg's Tyler Schmidt leads the league in free-throw percentage at .927 (38-41), followed closely by Burns at .881 (59-67).

(UPDATED) NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS: Thru games of Jan. 15 (does not include the Macalester game), SJU was listed third out of 405 Division III teams in least turnovers per game (10.3, now 10.1) and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.39, now 1.45). The Johnnies were also 12th in free-throw percentage (.759, now .764).

BARMORE BACK AT IT: The 63-49 loss at Gustavus Adolphus on Jan. 11 seems to have sparked Barmore, as the 6-foot-5 senior captain has averaged 24.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and three assists with a .656 shooting percentage (21-for-32) and no turnovers in the Johnnies' last two games. Barmore was held scoreless on three shots against the Gusties, ending a streak of 76 consecutive games played with a point.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies hold a 50-49 edge in the series under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 31-17 record in Collegeville. SJU has won each of the last six against the Auggies in Sexton Arena.

WHERE'S THE GAME AT?: The winning team in the series, as of late, has been the home team, as both teams have won six straight on their home court. The secret to the Johnnies' success against Augsburg at home has been a fast start. SJU outscored the Auggies by a combined 72 points in the first half of the last six wins in Sexton Arena thanks to a .483 shooting percentage, versus .319 for Augsburg. Grzesiak-Grimm's stats are nearly 2-to-1 at home as compared to three games at SJU. The stats are slightly better for Polta in Collegeville, however.

-At Si Melby Hall (5 games): Grzesiak-Grimm (12.2 ppg., 8.4 rpg., .571), Polta (6.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., .480)

-At Sexton Arena (3 games): Grzesiak-Grimm (4.0 ppg., 4.3 rpg., .333), Polta (8.7 ppg., 5.0 rpg., .500)

CLASH OF DEFENSES: Tonight's game showcases the MIAC's top two scoring defenses in Augsburg (59.4 ppg.) and SJU (61.6 ppg.). The Auggies currently lead the league in three-point defense (30.5 percent) and are second in overall opponent shooting percentage (.414).