Saint John's plays host to Bethel for a 7:30 p.m. game Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Sexton Arena. – Listen Live (Real Audio Player) | Live Stats | Live Video

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (9-10, 8-6 MIAC) senior post Chris Orgas (Lakeville, Minn./North) made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left, his only two points of the contest, as the Johnnies extended their win streak to six games with a 59-57 win over Gustavus Adolphus on Jan. 26 in Collegeville. Orgas was fouled while grabbing a defensive rebound and took his place at the charity stripe with SJU only 6-for-16 at the free-throw line in the game. Gustavus attempted to inbound the ball but junior Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) knocked the initial throw-in and time expired. The Gusties led by as much as 10 (43-33) with 15 minutes remaining, but missed their final seven shots from the floor. Junior Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) led the Johnnies with 14 points off the bench, 13 of which came in the second half. Freshman Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) followed with 12 points and classmate Alex Schmitt (Chaska, Minn./Waconia) added 10 points off the bench. Junior Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) collected eight points and five assists. The Johnnies shot 59.1 percent (13-for-22) in the second half to earn their first season sweep of Gustavus since the 2006-07 campaign.

SECOND-HALF PROFICIENCY, LATE: The Johnnie basketball team shot 52 percent (128-for-246) from the field in the second half of its last eight games, including 59.1 percent (13-for-22) in the 59-57 comeback win over Gustavus Adolphus Jan. 26. The last five minutes have been even better for SJU. The Johnnies combined to shoot 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from the floor in their last three games, while their opponents shot only 18.2 percent (4-for-22).

HITTING THE OFFENSIVE GLASS: SJU is tied for second in the MIAC (all games) with an average of 11.4 offensive rebounds per game (36.6 percent of its missed shots), its best year on the offensive glass since 2007-08 (11.4 orpg., 36.5 percent). The Johnnies' leading rebounders are both 6-foot-5: senior Chris Neumann (6.1 rpg.; Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) and junior Seth Marx (5.4 rpg.; Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's). Coincidentally, SJU's leading rebounders during the 2007-08 season were 6-foot-5 (Aaron Burtzel '11, 6.6 rpg,) and 6-foot-6 (Brady Brink '08, 8.4 rpg.). The Johnnies averaged only 8.6 offensive rebounds per game last year and 8.3 in 2010-11.

THREE WINS FROM 18TH: SJU head coach Jim Smith (752-531 record in 49 seasons at SJU) became the 19th coach in college basketball history, all divisions (NCAA), to reach 750 coaching victories in the 73-66 win over Carleton Jan. 21. He is now three wins from tying, four from passing, long-time (1935-70) Oklahoma State head coach Hank Iba (755-340 career record) for 18th on the NCAA's all-time wins list.

A LOOK AT THE ROYALS: Bethel (12-7, 8-6 MIAC) held on to defeat Carleton 74-73 on Jan. 26. The Royals ended the first half with a three-point advantage, but the Knights' comeback fell just short in the end as Carleton's game-tying three-pointer rolled around the rim and out in the final seconds. BU finished the night at 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the floor, despite a struggle from long-range, making just four of 15 from the perimeter. The Royals outscored the Knights 48-18 in the paint. Taylor Hall, a senior transfer from Bemidji State, finished the game with 37 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Hall recorded a double-double (20 points and 10 boards) in the first half alone. Junior Kyle Zimmerman finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists. Hall has been named the MIAC Player of the Week three of the past four weeks and leads the MIAC (all games) in points (22.3 ppg.), rebounds (10.2 rpg.) and blocks (1.6 bpg.). Zimmerman is second on the team in points (13.5 ppg.) and rebounding (7.7 rpg.).

EARLIER THIS SEASON: Bethel shot 63.3 percent (19-for-30) from the field, including 61.5 percent (8-for-13) from three-point range, to gain a 48-22 lead at the half and never looked back in an 86-59 win over Saint John's Jan. 2 in Arden Hills. The Johnnies, meanwhile, shot only 28.6 percent (8-for-28) in the opening half. The Royals finished at 56.1 percent (32-for-57) for the game and 10 of 19 from beyond the arc. Butcher and Orgas led SJU with 11 and 10 points off the bench, respectively. The Johnnies out-rebounded Bethel 40-33, including an eye-opening 21-9 advantage on the offensive glass. The visitors, however, only turned the 21 offensive boards into 20 points, made only one of their 14 three-point attempts and committed 16 turnovers on the night. Hall led all scorers with 22 points. Quinn Gorski and J.D. Robinson followed with 17 and 15 points, while Jared Nelson hit four three-pointers off the bench.

SERIES HISTORY: SJU is 50-24 all-time against Bethel under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 30-8 record in Collegeville.