Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – No. 19 Saint John's basketball extended its win streak to six games with an 87-70 victory at Saint Mary's on Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Winona.

SJU (7-1, 4-0 MIAC) shot 59 percent (36-for-61) from the field and out-rebounded SMU (5-4, 2-3 MIAC) 49-21. The Johnnies entered the game leading NCAA Division III in three-point percentage (.478) but made only two of their 15 long-range attempts Wednesday night (to finish 34-for-45 inside the arc).

Junior post Ethan Novacinski (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo) led SJU with a career-high 29 points, on 13 of 15 shooting, off the bench. He also recorded seven rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. His previous career high was 12 points, which he tied in last Saturday's (Dec. 8) 92-63 home win over Hamline.

The Johnnies started slow, trailing the Cardinals 12-8 in the game's first 5:25 until Novacinski sparked a 10-0 run with three consecutive baskets. SJU broke open a two-point lead (18-16) with a 28-14 run over the final 8:33 to take a 46-30 lead into the break. 

Junior wing Jubie Alade (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) totaled 18 points and three assists, while senior guard David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) added 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Junior post Lucas Walford (Elko, Minn./New Prague) just missed his fourth double-double of the season with 11 points and nine boards. Sophomore post Kyle Sorenson (Caledonia, Minn.) snared 10 rebounds off the bench.

Eli Cave, the reigning MIAC Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week, led the Cardinals with 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting. SMU finished at 40.6 percent (26-for-64) from the floor.

SJU is now 88-21 against SMU since the 1964-65 season, including wins in each of the last 23 meetings overall.

The Johnnies play host to Wisconsin-Superior for a 3 p.m. non-conference game on Saturday, Dec. 29, in Sexton Arena.