Saint John's (6-3, 2-2 MIAC) brings its four-game win streak to the hardwood tonight against Bethel (6-3, 2-2 MIAC). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's made each of its final six free throws and sophomore Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) drilled a three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining as the host Johnnies upset No. 13 St. Thomas 68-66 Monday night. The game endured nine lead changes from the 2:38 mark of the second half to Marx's three-pointer. SJU kept the game close (31-27), thanks to a 10-for-11 showing at the free-throw line, despite shooting 32.0 percent (8-for-25) from the field in the first half. The Tommies, on the other hand, shot at a 47.8-percent clip (11-for-23), including a six of nine from three-point range, in the game's first 20 minutes. The Johnnies started the second half with a 6-0 run to regain the lead and extended it to as much as seven (48-41) with 11:41 left. The Tommies bounced back with a 17-7 run before both teams exchanged layups and four free throws. SJU ended the game 21 of 25 (84.0 percent) from the charity stripe. The second half proved to be a reversal of fortunes as the Tommies shot just 39.1 percent (9-for-23) from the field and 1-for-6 from three-point land. SJU, meanwhile, shot 56.5 percent (13-for-23) in the second half and four of nine from beyond the arc. Marx led the Johnnies with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Aaron Barmore (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) and Andy Burns (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) added 14 and 12 points, respectively. The senior captains collected five assists each.
A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel brings a two-game winning streak to Collegeville tonight following a 73-66 win over Concordia-Moorhead Monday night. In addition to identical records, BU and SJU share common victories over Martin Luther and losses to both Augsburg and Carleton. Junior Taylor Hall leads the team with 13.3 points per game, followed closely by Kyle Zimmerman, a sophomore transfer from SJU, with 13.2 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds per game.
SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 49-22 all-time against the Royals under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 29-8 record in Collegeville. SJU has won each of the last four meetings overall and five of the last seven in Sexton Arena.
LAST SEASON: It was a tale of two halves for Saint John's last Dec. 8 (2010), as the Johnnies erased a 16-point deficit in the second half to defeat Bethel 69-65 in Collegeville. SJU shot a dreary 28.6 percent (6-21) in the first half and headed into halftime with a 33-20 deficit. The Johnnies went 9:15 between field goals (0-for-7 from the field with four turnovers), both of which were layups by Barmore. The home team turned it on in the second half, shooting 53.3 percent (16-30) from the floor to outscore Bethel 49-32 in the game's final 20 minutes. Bethel led by 11 points with 12:04 left in the game and proceeded to miss eight consecutive shots and commit a turnover, which allowed the Johnnies to gain a one-point lead. Christian Skinner ended the scoring drought for the Royals to put them ahead by one. Sam Blank '11 made a three-pointer to put SJU up by two, but Daniel Baah answered back with a three-pointer of his own. Bethel, however, missed its next three shots and Saint John's went up by five. The Royals gained the lead one more time on a three-pointer by Greg Meyer, but that would be the end of their scoring, as they missed their next four shots. Bethel turned the ball over with 0:42 left in the contest and Blank completed a three-point play to put the Johnnies up by four. A desperation three-pointer with 0:03 left fell short to end the game.
SJU extended a 12-point halftime lead to as much as 32 in a 77-53 win at Bethel last Jan. 31. Aaron Burtzel '11 tallied four assists to pass assistant coach Matt Ohme '07 to become the school's all-time leader with 368. Burns led the Johnnies with 13 points on a perfect 3-for-3 night from behind the arc (4-for-4 at the free-throw line). Ahead by 14 with 15:38 left in the game, SJU scored 10 points on one trip down to its offensive end. Following a made basket, Burns stripped the ball and went hard to the basket and was fouled. The foul was ruled intentional and a Royal was called for two technical fouls and ejected from the game. Barmore made all four free throws resulting from the technicals, and Burns made his two. Barmore then hit a jumper from the extra possession.
