Box Score

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Saint John's basketball gave Pat McKenzie '04 a win in his head-coaching debut, 83-80 over Division II St. Cloud State, on Friday, Nov. 20, in St. Cloud.

The victory, coupled with last year's 73-70 win in Collegeville, gave SJU its first back-to-back wins in the series since 1983.

The Johnnies shot 66.7 percent (18-for-27) in the second half, 58.6 percent (34-for-58) for the game, and out-scored SCSU (0-3 overall) 48-18 in the paint. SJU posted a 17-4 scoring advantage off turnovers, which were 10-5 in favor of the Huskies.

Senior guard Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) led SJU with 26 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the floor, including a perfect 4-for-4 night from behind the arc. He was 5-for-5 (2-for-2 from three-point range) in the second half alone.

Senior wing Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) followed with 16 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.

Senior guard Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) chipped in 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while sophomore post Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) added 14 points of his own, all of which were scored in the second half. Kuck hit a half-court shot at the horn to cut the Johnnies' deficit to 41-38 at the break.

SCSU led by seven, 74-67, with 4:27 remaining, but SJU went on a 16-4 run, aided by two consecutive baskets from Schmitt in the final minute.

Scottie Stone led the Huskies with 24 points, including 19 in the first half, and Mark Hall added 21.

The Johnnies take on St. Scholastica for a 4 p.m., neutral-site game on Saturday, Nov. 21, at SCSU's Halenbeck Hall.