Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings with an 87-81 win over Bethel on Monday, Jan. 16, in Collegeville.

The Johnnies (11-3, 7-2 MIAC) made nine of their first 10 shot attempts, including a 5-for-5 performance from three-point range, to build a 24-5 lead 6:33 into the game. SJU shot 69.6 percent (16-for-23) from the field, but BU (11-3, 7-2 MIAC) shot a respectable 51.6 percent (16-for-31) and scored 15 points off 10 turnovers to cut the home team's lead to 46-37 at the break.



SJU has now shot 68.3 percent (71-for-104) from the floor in the first half of its last four games (56.5 percent overall).

A layup by sophomore guard David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) gave SJU a nine-point lead (60-51) with 12:40 remaining, but the Royals answered with a 16-6 run to gain their first lead of the game, 67-66, with 9:17 to play. Back-to-back baskets in the paint from junior post Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) and a traditional three-point play from junior guard Brent Hentges (Carver, Minn./Holy Family Catholic) sparked a 9-0 run capped by a drive to the hoop from freshman guard Shareif Bailey (Round Lake, Ill./Westosha Central, Wis.).

BU went on a 7-0 run to cut its deficit to four, 83-79, with 35 seconds remaining. SJU, however, made four of its final six free throws and the visitors missed their last three shot attempts to seal the win.

Weiss led SJU with a career-high 25 points on 10 of 15 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. The double-double was the sixth of his career and first in exactly one year (11 points and 10 rebounds last Jan. 16 in the 91-68 home win over Augsburg). He is shooting 62.3 percent (48-for-77) with an average of 19.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the last six contests since his season-low output of nine points Dec. 10 at St. Thomas.

Junior guard Patrick Strom (Fargo, N.D./Shanley) erupted for 20 points on six of eight shooting, including a 5-for-6 showing from three-point land, but was held scoreless in the second half. He finished with six rebounds and needs three treys to tie Kevin Buth '03 for 10th (134 three-pointers) on SJU's all-time list.

Stokman stepped up to score 16 points, all in the second half. Bailey tallied seven points, six rebounds and four assists off the bench.

Derek Magnuson led all scorers with 27 points on 11 of 15 shooting (2-for-3 from three-point) for Bethel, which received 15 votes in the latest D3hoops.com top 25 poll released earlier today. Trevor Hall added 16 points and Granger Kingland contributed 15 off the bench.

SJU out-rebounded BU 37-26, but committed 16 turnovers, including four offensive fouls. The Royals posted scoring advantages in the paint (46-28) and off turnovers (25-14).

The Johnnies travel to face Hamline (10-4, 7-2 MIAC) for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in St. Paul. SJU is currently in a three-way tie atop the MIAC standings with BU and the Pipers.