Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - No. 19 Saint John's basketball returned to conference play and extended its win streak to eight games with a 78-58 victory at Augsburg on Wednesday, Jan. 2, at Si Melby Hall in Minneapolis.

The Johnnies (9-1, 5-0 MIAC) never trailed, shot 61.2 percent (30-for-49) from the field and out-rebounded the Auggies (7-3, 3-2 MIAC) by a 37-26 margin. SJU entered the contest second in NCAA Division III (through games of Jan. 1) in both rebound margin (+14.9 rpg.) and shooting percentage (.558).

SJU broke open a one-point margin (12-11) with an 18-0 run as the Auggies went 7:45 between made field goals. The visitors shot 66.7 percent (18-for-27) from the floor, to the Auggies' 27.6 percent (8-for-29), in the first half to take a 43-21 lead into the break.

Junior post Lucas Walford (Elko, Minn./New Prague) missed one shot (8 of 9) and led the Johnnies with 17 points. He fell one rebound shy of his fourth double-double of the season. 

Senior guard David Stokman (Maple Lake, Minn.) filled the stat sheet with 16 points, five assists and five rebounds, while sophomore post Zach Hanson (New Prague, Minn.) tied a career high with eight boards and fell one point shy of his career high with 14.

Booker Coplin, the MIAC's leading scorer (25.1 ppg.), led Augsburg with 23 points and seven rebounds. The Auggies shot 35.5 percent (22-for-62) from the floor and 29.2 percent (7-for-24) from three-point range.

SJU has now won each of the last five meetings at Si Melby Hall and 10 of the last 12 overall.

The Johnnies travel to face Macalester for a 3 p.m. game Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Leonard Center in St. Paul.