Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's erased a seven-point deficit with 45 seconds left in regulation and out-scored Hamline 16-7 in overtime to earn an 82-73 win over the Pipers, head coach Jim Smith's 775th career victory, on Wednesday, Jan. 7, in Collegeville.

A three-pointer from the top of the key by 6-foot-7 Austin Johnson gave Hamline (5-6, 2-4 MIAC) a 66-59 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Junior guard Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) hit a jumper on the ensuing possession and an SJU turnover was salvaged, and sandwiched, by a pair of front-end misses by HU on one-and-one opportunities at the free-throw line. Schmitt made a layup with 11 seconds left, stripped Travis Johnson's dribble off the inbounds pass, and found junior forward Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) for the game-tying three-pointer with seven seconds left (66-66).

Schmitt gave SJU (5-5, 3-2 MIAC) a five-point lead with a clutch three-pointer as the shot clock expired with 2:27 left in overtime. Travis Johnson answered with a trey of his own on the other end, but the made shot would be the Pipers' last, as the visitors missed their final four shot attempts.

Freshman guard Patrick Strom (Fargo, N.D./Shanley) knocked down a three-pointer to give the Johnnies another five-point lead with 29 seconds left and SJU made its final four free throws to seal the victory. SJU made all eight of its shots from the charity stripe in overtime.

The Johnnies trailed by four, 32-28, at halftime after shooting 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from the field. The home team missed a total of 22 layups (shots in the paint), including 10 in each half, and made only 10 of 21 free throws during regulation (47.6 percent). SJU entered the game as one of the MIAC's best from the free-throw line at 74.6 percent.

Schmitt led the Johnnies with 22 points, thanks to a 20-point performance (8-for-11 shooting performance) after halftime. Risinger tallied a career-high 18 points and added seven rebounds, while junior guard Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) totaled 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Dior Ford led Hamline, which made only four of its 22 three-point attempts (1-for-5 in overtime), with 22 points.

The Johnnies out-rebounded HU 50-33 in the game.

Smith (775-551 career record in 51 seasons) is now 78-26 all-time against Hamline, including a 44-9 record in Collegeville.

SJU travels to face Carleton (4-6, 1-4 MIAC) for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 10, in Northfield.