Box ScoreCOLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half to earn an 87-83 win over Gustavus Adolphus on Wednesday, Jan. 20, in Collegeville.
Down nine (66-57) with 10:37 to play, SJU (12-3, 7-3 MIAC) made eight of its final 12 field goals and went 13-for-16 at the free-throw line to pull out the win. The Gusties (5-10, 2-8 MIAC), meanwhile, shot 48.4 percent (15-for-31) in the second half, but just 3-for-14 from three-point range.
Senior guard
Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) led all scorers with 27 points, his fourth 20-point game of the season and 15th of his career, on 10 of 15 shooting. He also led all players with seven rebounds on the night, all of which were recorded in the second half.
Senior wing
Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) posted his second 20-point game with 21 points, aided by an 8-for-9 night at the charity stripe.
GAC ended the first half on a 15-4 run before senior guard
Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to cut the Gusties' lead to 44-38 at the break. The visitors shot 57.6 percent (19-for-33) from the field in the first half, including a 6-for-9 performance from downtown.
Schmitt added 17 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 showing from the free-throw line, off the bench.
Both teams shot 53 percent from the field, though SJU shot 58.3 percent (14-for-24) in the second half and held a stark advantage from three-point land (56.3 percent to 39.1 percent).
Gary Cooper led GAC with 19 points, in addition to seven assists and six rebounds. Peter Kruize collected 17 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The Johnnies travel to face St. Olaf for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday, Jan. 23, in Northfield.
