Box Score

Box Score

Post-Game Interviews:
-Marx, Wittenborg & Coach Smith (1:54)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's received 35 points from its bench and finished 11-for-12 from the free-throw line in a 72-67 non-conference win over Minnesota-Morris on Thursday, Dec. 13, in Collegeville.

SJU (3-5, 2-2 MIAC) erased an early 10-2 deficit with a 20-2 run en route to a 38-30 halftime lead. Morris (3-5, 0-0 UMAC) started the second half with an 11-2 run to take a one-point lead (41-40), which was the first of seven lead changes in half.

Junior Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) tied the game at 62-62 with a big three-pointer at the 4:22 mark and hit a pair of free throws  to give the home team a two-point lead. A jumper from R.J. Dean tied it before the Johnnies were able to take the lead for good with a basket from juniors Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) and Jack Wittenborg (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) each.

Marx led all scorers with 16 points and missed a double-double by one rebound. Wittenborg added a career-high 14 points and McKenzie followed with 11. Senior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) collected 10 points and six boards, while junior Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) posted eight points and eight assists.

Steve Birman led the Cougars with 15 points and Dean added 14. UMM made 12 three-pointers in the game but left 10 points (11-for-21) at the free-throw line.

The Johnnies travel to take on Wisconsin-River Falls for a 5 p.m. game on Saturday, Dec. 29, in River Falls, Wis.