Box Score

Post-Game Interviews:
-Kuck, Maslonkowski & McKenzie (1:10)

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's countered 13 second-half turnovers by shooting 63.2 percent (12-for-19) in the game's final 20 minutes, including a 6-for-9 showing from three-point range, in a 73-70 win over Division II St. Cloud State on Tuesday, Nov. 25, in Collegeville.

Down 65-62 with 2:27 remaining, SJU went on a 9-0 run that started on back-to-back three-pointers from juniors Tarik Hujdurovic (Tuzla, Bosnia/Saint John's Prep) and Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka). SJU made five of its last eight free throws to clinch the victory, its third in the last 15 meetings with St. Cloud State (2-2 overall).

SJU shot 43.3 percent in the first half, but made just one of its eight three-point attempts, to take a 34-32 lead into the break. 

The Johnnies led by seven, 39-32, early in the second half before venturing down a decrepit 6:23 span in which they scored only two points and turned the ball over seven times. The home team weathered the storm, however, and bounced back with a 12-2 run to re-gain a seven-point lead, 55-48, with 9:18 left.

The Huskies battled back to tie the game at 59-59 before freshman Patrick Strom (Fargo, N.D./Shanley) hit a three-pointer with 5:03 remaining. Hujdurovic's trey with 1:59 left ended a 6-0 run for SCSU and started the Johnnies' nine-point swing en route to the win.

Junior Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) started the game 0-for-4 from the floor only to make six of his eight shots in the second half to lead all scorers with 19 points. Risinger added 15 points, while senior Blake Maslonkowski (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo) tallied his fourth double-double as a Johnnie with 11 points, 13 rebounds (five on the offensive glass) and four steals.

Donnell Cegers led the Huskies with 16 points and James Fort came off the bench with 14 points and six boards.

SJU out-rebounded the Huskies 34-32, though State posted statistical advantages in second-chance points (21-15) and points off turnovers (24-14).

The Johnnies host Concordia-Moorhead for the MIAC opener at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Sexton Arena.