Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 2 Saint John's basketball earned its 20th consecutive win with a 68-53 victory over St. Olaf on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Collegeville.

The win was also the 35th straight at home in the regular season for the Johnnies (20-1, 16-0 MIAC), who broke open a two-point halftime lead (30-28) by shooting 60.9 percent (14-for-23) in the second half, including 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from behind the arc.

The Oles (9-11, 6-9 MIAC) turned nine first-half turnovers by SJU into 12 points and led by as many as 12 (21-9) with 8:41 left in the opening frame. The Johnnies, however, answered with a 7-0 run and took a 10-0 run into intermission (over the final 3:19).

SJU out-rebounded STO, 40-19, though the Oles accumulated a 19-3 scoring advantage off turnovers. The Johnnies entered the night second in NCAA Division III in fewest turnovers per game (9.5) and finished with 16 miscues.



Junior post Zach Hanson (New Prague, Minn.) paced SJU with 12 points, on 5-for-5 shooting, in the first half and finished with 18 and nine rebounds.

Senior post Lucas Walford (Elko, Minn./New Prague) posted his ninth double-double of the season and 24th of his career with 18 points and 14 rebounds, including five offensive.

Senior wing Jubie Alade (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) was the other Johnnie in double digits with 14 points, 12 of which came in the second half. He moved past Mitchell Kuck '16 on SJU's all-time scoring list into 13th with 1,281 points. Alex Schmitt '16 is next in 12th (1,302).

Noah Beck and Troy Diggins Jr. led St. Olaf with 13 points apiece. The Oles finished at 37.3 percent (22-for-59) from the floor, including a 5-for-23 performance from downtown (0-for-7 in the second half).

The Johnnies travel to face Augsburg for a 1 p.m. game this Saturday, Feb. 8, in Minneapolis.