Box Score

Box Score | Listen to Archived Game

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's completed a regular-season sweep of No. 11 St. Thomas, its second in the last three seasons, with a 76-69 upset of the Tommies on Saturday, Feb. 22, in St. Paul.

The win clinched the fourth seed and a home game for SJU (15-10, 13-7 MIAC) in next week's six-team MIAC Playoffs and snapped UST's 31-game home win streak (since SJU posted a 61-56 victory to sweep the season series on Feb. 1, 2011). The Johnnies host Gustavus Adolphus (16-9, 13-7 MIAC) in the quarterfinal round at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in Sexton Arena.

The Johnnies trailed by as much as 11 in the first half and by seven at the break, 36-29, but went on a 15-2 run during a 5:29 span to gain a four-point lead (48-44) with 11:39 remaining. The Tommies (21-4, 18-2 MIAC) clawed back to tie the game at 48, but SJU made three-pointers on four of its next six possessions to take a six-point lead, 60-54. The visitors led by as little as five points the rest of the way and shot 66.7 percent (14-for-21) in the second half, including a 5-for-7 showing from three-point land.

Senior Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) led SJU with 22 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Sophomore Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) followed with 13 points and senior Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) added 12 points and seven rebounds. Marx (163 three-pointers) broke his tie with former teammate Chris Schwartz (161, 2007-11) for third on SJU's all-time list.

SJU ended the game at 54.8 percent (23-for-42) from the floor, including 60 percent (9-for-15) from behind the arc. The Johnnies also went 21-for-26 (80.8 percent) from the free-throw line and registered 18 points off nine UST turnovers in the game.

Zach Riedeman led the Tommies, who shot 42 percent (21-for-50) for the game, with 19 points.