Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's scored 22 points off 13 Concordia-Moorhead turnovers in an 87-76 home win on Saturday, Dec. 3, in Sexton Arena.

The Johnnies (6-2, 3-0 MIAC) shot 57.6 percent (34-for-59) from the field, including 66.7 percent (16-for-24) in the second half. Saturday's home game was a long time coming for the Johnnie basketball program, as SJU opened the 2021-22 season with its first seven games on the road (nine of the first 10). The game was the first for fans in Sexton Arena since SJU defeated Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on March 7, 2020; a span of 637 days.

The Cobbers (2-4, 1-2 MIAC) led by as much as five (24-19) with nine minutes remaining in the first half and by three (31-28) with 4:07 before intermission. SJU, however, answered with a 12-2 run to take a 40-33 lead into the break and scored the first seven points of the second half. The Johnnies led by as much as 17 (83-66).



Sophomore wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) led four Johnnies in double figures with 23 points on 10 of 14 shooting and grabbed six rebounds.

Senior post Zach Hanson (New Prague, Minn.) followed closely with 22 points, six rebounds and tied a career high with five assists. 

Sophomore guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) added 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting off the bench and freshman guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) tallied 11 points.

Rowan Nelson scored a game-high 25 points for CC, which finished at 54.4 percent (31-for-57) from the field and doubled its season average (21.4 percent) from three-point land (44.4 percent, 8-for-18). 

The Johnnies return to the road to face Hamline (2-4, 1-2 MIAC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, in St. Paul.