Box ScoreNEWBERG, Ore. – Saint John's basketball ended its Thanksgiving trip to Oregon with an 84-82 win at George Fox on Saturday, Nov. 28, in Newberg, Ore.
SJU (4-0 overall) trailed by as much as 13 (40-27) with 4:22 left in the first half, but responded with an 11-3 run to take a five-point deficit into intermission. The Johnnies continued that pace with a 24-6 run to start the second half and gain a 13-point lead (62-49) with 13 minutes remaining.
George Fox (0-4 overall) roared back to within one, 77-76, with 2:32 left. Despite making its last field goal six seconds later, SJU fended off the Bruins to clinch the win.
Senior guard
Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led SJU with a career-high 32 points, including 24 in the second half alone. He also chipped in six rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore post
Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) just missed his second double-double in as many days with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Senior wing
Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) added 13 points and freshman guard
David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) contributed 12 points and a 3-for-3 performance from behind the arc off the bench.
SJU shot 58 percent (29-for-50) from the field, including 64 percent (16-for-25) in the second half, but committed 20 turnovers. GFU held statistical advantages off turnovers (26-22) and second-chance points (14-5).
The Johnnies open conference play with a 7 p.m. game at Carleton on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in Northfield.
