Box Score
Box Score | Listen to Archived Game
Post-Game Interviews:
-Neumann, Schmitt, Wittenborg & Smith (2:43)
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's shot 52.2 percent (12-for-23) from three-point range and 84 percent (21-for-25) from the free-throw line to earn its seventh consecutive victory, 89-82 over Bethel on Wednesday, Jan. 30, in Collegeville.
The Johnnies (10-10, 9-6 MIAC) shot 60 percent (15-for-25) from the field to gain a six-point lead (43-37) at halftime. Bethel (12-8, 8-7 MIAC) held a lead for 6:04 span in the second half and re-gained its lead by one (61-60) with a pair of free throws from Taylor Hall with 8:34 remaining. SJU, however, proceeded to shoot 7-for-8 from the floor and 12 of 14 from the charity stripe the rest of the way.
Senior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) led SJU with 21 points, including two three-pointers, while freshman Alex Schmitt (Chaska, Minn./Waconia) added 18 off the bench. Junior Jack Wittenborg (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) tied a career high with 14 points and classmate Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) added nine points and 10 rebounds.
Hall led all scorers with 27 points before fouling out with 51 seconds remaining. J.D. Robinson recorded 18 points, all on three-pointers (6-for-10), for BU.
The two teams combined to shoot 47.6 percent from beyond the arc (20-for-42) and 78.8 percent (41-52) from the free-throw line.
SJU head coach Jim Smith is now 51-24 all-time against the Royals, including a 31-8 record in Collegeville. With the win, Smith improves to 753-531 in 49 seasons at SJU and is now two wins from tying, three 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 (all divisions).
The Johnnies begin a tough stretch against three opponents that are ahead of them in the MIAC standings, beginning with a 7:30 p.m. game at Augsburg on Monday, Feb. 4, in Minneapolis. SJU travels to face Concordia-Moorhead Feb. 6 before returning home to host nationally-ranked St. Thomas Feb. 9.
