Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. – Saint John's basketball surrendered a 10-point lead in the second half and suffered its second one-point loss in conference play with a 63-62 defeat at Gustavus Adolphus on Wednesday, Feb. 17, in St. Peter.

SJU (17-7, 12-7 MIAC) out-rebounded the Gusties 41-34, but gave up two offensive rebounds (of the Gusties' total of six) in the final 24 seconds, including a put-back off an airball by Brody Ziegler that proved to be the game-winning basket with four seconds remaining.

Senior guard Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) got past the GAC defense and looked to score the go-ahead layup, but the clock never started so play was whistled dead. After both teams were able to reset, Schmitt's game-winning, three-point attempt bounced off the rim at the horn.

A win in the Johnnies' regular-season finale at Augsburg this Saturday, Feb. 20, would give them the No. 3 seed in next week's six-team MIAC Playoffs. A loss would give SJU the No. 4 seed; meaning, regardless of Saturday's result, the Johnnies will be hosting an MIAC Playoff quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, in Sexton Arena. 

Gustavus (11-13, 8-11 MIAC) scored 18 points off 17 SJU turnovers and the Johnnies missed nine layups (shots in the paint) in the game. The 17 turnovers were more than the Johnnies recorded over their previous two games combined (15).

SJU started the game with a 14-2 run, making six of its first seven shots, and led 24-12 before the Gusties went on a 10-0 run. Senior guard Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) answered with six straight points to give the visitors a 30-22 halftime lead. GAC made only one of its first 12 shot attempts and finished at 28.6 percent (8-for-28) in the first half.

The Johnnies made their first two shots in the second half to gain a 10-point lead (34-24), but the Gusties answered with a 15-2 run to gain a 39-36 lead with 13:33 left. A layup from senior wing Joe Risinger (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) gave SJU a one-point lead (62-61) with 36 seconds left before GAC's game-winning basket.

Kuck led SJU with 13 points and four assists, while Schmitt added 12 points, eight rebounds and three helpers. Risinger followed with 10 points and eight boards, and freshman guard David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) tallied 10 points, all in the second half, off the bench. 

Sophomore post Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) collected six points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes of play. He was called for an offensive foul and then an off-setting technical, his third and fourth fouls of the game, with 9:27 left and SJU down one (43-42).

Ziegler led GAC, which shot 38.2 percent (21-for-55) for the game, with 20 points and seven rebounds. SJU shot only 20 percent (4-for-20) from three-point range, including 1-for-9 in the second half.