Saint John's plays host to Augsburg for a 7:30 p.m. game tonight at Sexton Arena in Collegeville. – Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM, via Real Audio Player) | Live Stats | Live Video

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (10-9, 8-6 MIAC) capitalized on 17 Gustavus Adolphus turnovers in a 68-63 road win Monday night (Feb. 3) in St. Peter. Down by six (59-53) with 5:51 remaining, Gustavus went on a 9-0 run to gain its first lead since 9:59 remained in the first half (17-16). The Johnnies, however, scored nine of the game's final 10 points to earn the victory. GAC shot 65 percent (13-for-20) from the field in the first half but trailed SJU by three (35-32) thanks to 10 turnovers.

Sophomore Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led all scorers with 21 points in 22 minutes off the bench, including 14 points in the second half and nine of the team's final 13. Senior Patrick Butcher (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) added 16 points, 12 of which came in the first half, and junior Blake Maslonkowski (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo) collected 10 points and eight rebounds at the post. The trio's compilation of 47 points was crucial for the visiting team's cause considering senior Seth Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) was held to only two points and sophomore Alex Schmitt (Chaska, Minn./Waconia), the team's leading scorer (12.8 ppg.), missed his second consecutive game due to injury. Brian Jacobs led the Gusties with 20 points. GAC shot 46.4 percent (13-for-28) in the second half and 22.2 percent (2-for-9) from three-point range for the game.

RARE WIN IN ST. PETER: Monday night's win in St. Peter was only the Johnnies' seventh in their last 26 trips to St. Peter, but the third in the last four years.

BIG SWIPERS: Maslonkowski leads SJU with 21 steals, 14 of which were recorded in his last eight games. The last five seasons a Johnnie post player has led the team, or tied for the team lead, in steals: Aaron Burtzel (35, 2008-09); Aaron Burtzel (41, 2009-10); Aaron Burtzel (40, 2010-11); Aaron Barmore (31, 2011-12); and Chris Neumann (24, 2012-13).

BACK IN THE GROOVE: Kuck is averaging 16 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 63.2 percent (12-for-19) from the field, in his last two games. He totaled 16 points and four rebounds in his previous four games since returning to action after breaking his foot during practice following the Nov. 17 win against St. Scholastica. Kuck averaged 15 points, four rebounds and four assists through the season's first two games before the injury.

+3.5 SINCE CHRISTMAS: The Johnnies have forced an average of 13.9 turnovers per game over their last 11 contests (7-4 MIAC record), while committing only 10.4. The 14 extra possessions, on average, lead to 17.1 points per game over that span.

HOME COURT: SJU is 20-7 (.741) in MIAC games at home the last three seasons, including a 12-2 mark in its last 14 games.

BALANCED ATTACK: Nine different Johnnies have scored 14 points or more in a game this season, including five with at least 19.

A LOOK AT THE AUGGIES: Augsburg (13-6, 9-5 MIAC) won six straight games after Christmas, only to drop a pair to nationally-ranked St. Thomas (70-82) and St. Olaf (63-82) on the road. The Auggies, however, have bounced back with two wins, including a 79-69 home victory over Concordia-Moorhead Monday (Feb. 3) night. Augsburg currently boasts three of the MIAC's top four scorers (all games), all of which are seniors: Dan Kornbaum (first, 19.3 ppg.); Andy Seidlitz (second, 17.6 ppg.); and Noah Veach (fourth, 16.3 ppg.). Kornbaum is also second in both rebounding (7.7 rpg.) and shooting percentage (.668), 0.02 behind SJU's Maslonkowski. As a team, the Auggies are second in the league in field-goal percentage (.521) and scoring (74.6 ppg.).

EARLIER THIS SEASON: Augsburg scored points on its final four possessions in a 75-71 win over SJU earlier this season on Jan. 13 in Minneapolis. SJU went on a 14-7 run midway through the second half to build its largest lead of the game, 59-53, with 8:39 left. Augsburg, however, went on a 7-0 run to take a 60-59 lead and added a 6-0 run, after the Johnnies gained a one-point lead, to earn a 66-61 lead. Junior Jacob Peterson (Golden Valley, Minn./Hopkins) gave the lead back to SJU, 67-66, with a pair of free throws with 2:45 on the clock, but Seidlitz gave it right back to Augsburg with his fifth three-pointer of the game. Schmitt tied it at the other end with two free throws for SJU with 1:57 left. Veach grabbed an offensive rebound, off a missed shot from Seidlitz, was fouled and made two free throws to give the home team a 71-69 lead. Sophomore Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) missed a three-pointer and Kornbaum added his 12th field goal of the night to grow the Johnnies' deficit to four. The Auggies, who entered the game shooting 69.6 percent from the free-throw line on the year, made two of their four free throws the rest of the way to clinch the win and end the night 14-for-17 (82.4) from the line. The Johnnies' last three opponents have now combined for an 88.7-percent (55-for-62) showing at the charity stripe.

SJU missed its first seven shots of the game and Augsburg went on an 8-0 run to gain an early 14-4 lead. The Johnnies, however, answered with a 19-10 run to cut the deficit to one with 6:02 left. The Auggies responded with a 7-0 run, but SJU clawed back with an 8-3 run to end the half and trail 34-31 at the break. The Johnnies shot just 34.6 percent (9-for-26) in the first half, but went 3-for-6 from three-point range, 10-for-15 from the free-throw line and scored nine points off nine Auggie turnovers. Four Johnnies scored in double figures, led by Schmitt and Butcher with 15 points apiece. Risinger collected 11 points and five rebounds, while senior Kevin McKenzie (De Pere, Wis./Notre Dame Academy) added 10 points. Kornbaum led all scorers with 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Seidlitz added 22 points and five assists. The Auggies shot 55.1 percent (27-for-49) for the game and 63.6 percent (7-for-11) from beyond the arc. SJU committed only four turnovers in the game and forced 15, out-scoring Augsburg 22-5 off of the extra possessions, but was out-rebounded 35-25.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 51-54 against Augsburg under the direction head coach Jim Smith, including a 31-19 record in Collegeville. The Auggies have won the last two meetings in Sexton Arena, which ended an 11-1 run for SJU on its home court in the series.