Box Score

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Saint John's basketball erased a seven-point deficit with 54 seconds left in regulation and made eight of its final 10 shots, including a 5-for-6 showing from three-point range, in an 86-84 overtime win at Hamline on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in St. Paul.

The win, coupled with Concordia-Moorhead's last second, 72-70 home victory over Bethel, moves the Johnnies (12-3, 8-2 MIAC) into sole possession of first place in the MIAC.

Following an offensive foul called on HU's Zach Smith with 44 seconds left, junior guard Patrick Strom (Fargo, N.D./Shanley) drained a three-pointer to cut SJU's deficit to four (71-67), but Bret Lukes made both his free throws to tilt the lead back to six for the Pipers (10-5, 7-3 MIAC).

Sophomore guard David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) cut HU's lead to three with a traditional three-point play on the ensuing possession and Jay Betts missed the front end of a one-and-one at the free-throw line. Strom then drilled an NBA (and then some)-range three-pointer to tie the game at 73-73 with 19 seconds left. Betts' runner in the lane clanked off the iron to send the game to overtime.

SJU made its first three shots in overtime, a trey and layup from Stokman and a three-pointer from Strom, to gain a four-point lead (81-77). Hamline clawed back to tie it at 81-81, but the Johnnies answered with back-to-back buckets, a layup from junior post Tyler Weiss (Shakopee, Minn.) and another three from Stokman, to make it 86-81. HU's Kalu Abosi made a three-pointer with 54 seconds left, but the home team missed its final two shot attempts.

Stokman overcame a slow start (2-for-8) from the field and made five of his final seven shots to lead SJU with 22 points and nine assists. 

Strom followed with 20 points, thanks to a 6-for-11 showing from behind the arc. The six treys enabled him to crack SJU's top-10 list and move into a tie with former teammate Mitchell Kuck '16 for eighth at 137.

Weiss was called for his third foul of the game with 7:41 remaining in the first half but avoided the whistle the rest of the way to finish with 19 points.

Junior wing John Oliver (Chicago, Ill./Marian Catholic) made six of his seven shot attempts and posted career highs in points (12) and rebounds (9), including the game-winning board on Smith's three-point miss with three seconds left in the game.

SJU shot 45.8 percent (11-for-24) from the floor and trailed by six, 38-34, at the break. The Pipers, who did not commit a turnover in the first half, scored nine points off five SJU turnovers in the game's first 20 minutes. The Johnnies were whistled for nine fouls in the first half, including three offensive, as well as six consecutive during a 2:32 span. 

The Johnnies battled back to gain one-point leads in the second half on two occasions, 49-48 with 13:57 left and 61-60 with 8:34 to play, but the Pipers answered with runs of 9-0 and 8-0, respectively. HU was called for its first foul of the second half with 7:57 remaining.

Smith led HU with 20 points and Alosi doubled his season average (9.1 ppg.) with 18.

SJU shot 55.3 percent (21-for-38) after halftime to finish at 51.6 percent (32-for-62) for the game.

The Johnnies travel farther south to take on Carleton (7-8, 4-6 MIAC) at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, in Northfield.