Box Score

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Post-Game Interviews:
-Neumann & Coach Smith (2:38)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's made 11 of its first 13 shots and never looked back in a 77-50 win over Saint Mary's on Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (11-13, 10-9 MIAC) led by as much as 22 (43-21) in the first half before missing eight consecutive shots in the final 5:25. Saint Mary's, however, capitalized on SJU's cold streak with only four points during the span to take a 43-25 deficit into halftime.

SJU out-scored SMU 42-6 in the paint and led by as much as 29 (71-42) with five minutes remaining.

Freshman Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led the Johnnies with 16 points and added five rebounds, while senior Chris Neumann (Winsted, Minn./Holy Trinity) followed with 15 points. Freshman Alex Schmitt (Chaska, Minn./Waconia) tallied 13 points off the bench.

Senior Sam Dittberner (New Prague, Minn.) collected five points, six rebounds and four assists. Classmate Chris Orgas (Lakeville, Minn./North) recorded only two points but grabbed nine rebounds and blocked a pair of shots.

Will Swiggum led the Cardinals (4-20, 3-16 MIAC), which shot 28.6 percent from the field in the game (23.1 percent in the second half alone), with 12 points.

The win, coupled with Gustavus Adolphus' victory at Carleton this evening, means that the Johnnies' only path to next week's six-team MIAC playoffs is to defeat St. Olaf Saturday (Feb. 16) in Northfield and either have the Gusties lose at Concordia-Moorhead or Bethel lose to last-place Macalester. Both tip-offs are scheduled for 3 p.m. Bethel and Carleton each hold tie-breakers against SJU, though the Johnnies boasts the head-to-head tie-breaker over GAC due to the series sweep.

SJU is now are 76-20 all-time against SMU under the direction of head coach Jim Smith, including a 47-1 record at home. The victory extends the Johnnies' home winning streak over the Cardinals to 43 games. The lone home loss occurred Jan. 31, 1968, when SJU still played in the Old Gym on campus (80-77 in overtime).

Smith (754-534 career record) is now one win from tying, two 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.