Box ScoreWINONA, Minn. – Saint John's basketball shot a scalding 72 percent (18-for-25) in the first half, including 81.8 percent (9-for-11) from three-point range, in an 89-80 win at Saint Mary's on Saturday, Feb. 6, in Winona.
SJU (16-5, 11-5 MIAC) made the trek to Winona Saturday on a bit of a shooting skid, having shot 42.2 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from three-point land over its last four games (2-2 record); a far cry from the 51.1 percent (overall) and 40.8 percent (three-point) the team registered in the season's first 16 games.
The Johnnies made 11 of their final 12 field-goal attempts to turn a two-point lead into a 14-point margin at the half, 56-42. Although SJU shot only 44 percent (11-for-25) in the second half, to finish at 58 percent (29-for-50) for the game, the visitors used a pair of small runs (5-0 and 4-0) to maintain a healthy lead en route to the win.
Senior guard
Alex Schmitt (Waconia, Minn.) led all scorers with 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting. He went a perfect 6 of 6 (3-for-3 from three-point) from the floor for 18 points and collected five assists and four rebounds in the first half alone.
Like the team, Schmitt shot only 36.5 percent (19-for-52) from the floor and 15.4 percent (4-for-26) from three-point range in the previous four games. He shot 49.1 percent (106-for-216) from the field, including an eye-opening 50 percent (46-for-92) from behind the arc, in the season's first 16 games.
Senior guard
Mitchell Kuck (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) followed with 15 points and sophomore post
Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) added 13 points and six rebounds.
Quashingm Smith-Pugh led SMU (7-13, 5-10 MIAC) with 24 points.
SJU has now won 49 of the last 56 meetings with the Cardinals, including each of the last 18. The Johnnies have shot 55.8 percent (271-for-486) in their last nine trips to the SMU Gym, all wins.
The Johnnies travel to face No. 5 St. Thomas for a 7 p.m. game on Monday, Feb. 8, in St. Paul.
