The Johnnie basketball team continues its homestand with a 7 p.m. game against Saint Mary's on Wednesday, Jan. 19, in Sexton Arena. - Listen Live (WBHR-660 AM) | Live Stats/Live Video

SPECTATOR POLICY: Saint John's University updated the spectator policy for its home basketball games in Sexton Arena.

-Masks are required at all times (this has been the policy all season long).

-Spectators must maintain 6 feet of social distancing (and 12 feet from student-athletes/coaches/staff).

-Capacity will be reduced to 70 percent. Seating will be staggered by section, every-other row, for social distancing. 

-Fans/parents must sit within their family or friend group and should remain in their seats for the duration of the event (no moving seats, socializing, etc.). 

-Fans will not be allowed to gather with the student-athletes at the conclusion of the game.

-The concession stand will not be open.

Tickets
-Advanced ticket sales encouraged on www.gojohnnies.com/tickets for all fans. General tickets will also be for sale at the ticket booth.

-CSB/SJU students need to download their free ticket to each home game from www.gojohnnies.com/tickets with their Banner ID.

A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: Saint John's (11-3, 8-1 MIAC) clawed back from a 17-point deficit but saw its nine-game win streak end with a 67-66 loss to Augsburg last Saturday (Jan. 15) in Collegeville. The Johnnies had an opportunity to win the game in the closing seconds, but senior post Zach Hanson's (New Prague, Minn.) jumper rattled off the rim.

SJU overcame a poor first half by shooting 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the field and 5-for-7 from three-point range after halftime.

The home team gained its first lead since the game's opening basket (Plombon) when junior post Mitchell Plombon (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) made two free throws to put the Johnnies ahead 56-54 with 6:12 remaining. 

SJU led by four on two occasions, the last with 2:42 to play (64-60). Augsburg answered with a bucket and took advantage of an SJU turnover with a three-pointer from Joe Palmer to gain a 65-64 lead. The Johnnies had the opportunity to tie the game a minute later, but missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Palmer made it a three-point game (67-64) with a jumper as the shot clock expired and Hanson brought it back to one with 18 seconds left. The Auggies failed to take advantage of a one-and-one opportunity from the free-throw line, but SJU did the same with four seconds remaining. The rebound, however, glanced off an Auggie and the Johnnies were able to set up potential, game-tying in-bounds play under the hoop.

Plombon led SJU with a season-high 16 points and grabbed six rebounds.

Senior guard Colton Codute (Wayzata, Minn./Orono) scored 15 points on 5-for-5 shooting (4-for-4 from three-point), all in the second half. Thirteen of the 15 points game during the six-minute stretch that lifted SJU to its first four-point lead. Hanson totaled 12 points, seven boards, four assists and two steals. 

SJU made only two of its first 12 shot attempts and broke the five-point barrier with 11:17 left in the first half (to trail 19-7). The Johnnies finished the game's first 20 minutes at 36.7 percent (11-for-30) overall - including nine missed shots in the paint - and 2-for-9 from behind the arc to trail 35-24 at the break.

Palmer notched a double-double, leading all scorers with 30 points on 11 of 20 shooting (4-for-9 from three-point) and added 10 rebounds. The Auggies shot 50 percent in both halves, but cooled from 46.7 percent (7-for-15) to 25 percent (2-for-8) from downtown.  

TWO FROM 1,000: Hanson needs only two points to become the 39th Johnnie in program history to reach 1,000 for a career.

CODUTE AFTER HALFTIME: Codute played 18 of the first half's 20 minutes Saturday against Augsburg and did not attempt a shot. The second half, however, proved to be a different story as Codute went off for an efficient 15 points on a 5-for-5 performance from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point land. He currently shooting 71.4 percent (20-for-28) in the second half this season, including 61.1 percent (11-for-18) from behind the arc. Codute has missed two shots (14-for-16 overall, 9-for-11 from three-point) after halftime in the past six games. 

STARTERS AVERAGING DOUBLE DIGITS LAST WEEK: All five SJU starters averaged 10 points or more, while shooting 49.6 percent (64-for-129) overall and 45.7 percent (16-for-35) from downtown, in last week's three games. Sophomore wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) led the way with a 13.7 scoring average and Codute totaled 12.7. Hanson, Plombon and freshman guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) all averaged exactly 10.0 points.

STAT COMPARISONS: The Johnnies currently lead the MIAC in shooting percentage, both overall and from three-point range, as well as scoring defense in conference play. The Cardinals, meanwhile, are 10th out of 11 teams in shooting percentage and last from the free-throw line.

Scoring Offense
3. SJU, 75.3 ppg. (73.1 overall)
11. SMU, 62.6 ppg. (65.5 overall)

Scoring Defense
1. SJU, 62.0 ppg. (63.3 overall)
6. SMU, 67.9 ppg. (70.0 overall)

Shooting Percentage
1. SJU, 51.8 percent (50.5 overall)
10. SMU, 40.1 percent (39.8 overall)

Three-Point Percentage
1. SJU, 45.7 percent (38.8 overall)
7. SMU, 31.8 percent (30.9 overall)

Free-Throw Percentage
3. SJU, 74.8 percent (73.3 overall)
11. SMU, 60.0 percent (59.6 overall)

Rebounding
t4. SMU, 35.0 rpg. (37.2 overall)
10. SJU, 31.3 rpg. (32.1 overall)

A LOOK AT THE CARDINALS: Saint Mary's (5-8, 3-6 MIAC) suffered its third consecutive loss with a 73-67 defeat Saturday (Jan. 15) at Concordia. Down five (38-33) at the half, SMU came within one point on four separate occasions but were never able to take the lead. The Cobbers ended the game scoring 15 of the final 25 points to seal win. For the first time this season, five Cardinals scored in double digits. Senior (6-foot-5) forward Caden Freetly led the way with 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks, while junior (6-foot-4) guard Raheem Anthony added 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Anthony is second in the MIAC to Palmer from Augsburg in both scoring (18.4 ppg.) and rebounding (9.0 rpg.).

BACK IN DECEMBER: SJU shot 59.1 percent (13-for-22) in the second half to pull away from Saint Mary's for a 73-63 road win earlier this season on Dec. 1 in Winona. The Johnnies held a slim, 30-29 halftime lead thanks to a 39.3-percent (11-for-28) shooting performance, including 1-for-9 from three-point range, in the game's first 20 minutes. SJU led by as much as 11 (51-40) with 10:45 remaining, but Saint Mary's chipped away at the deficit to make it a two-point game (60-58) with 7:15 left. The Cardinals, however, proceeded to make just two of their final 11 shot attempts and went 0-for-2 from the free-throw line.

Hanson recorded the ninth double-double of his career, 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Vaughn matched him with 18 points of his own. Fifteen of Vaughn's points came in the second half.

Thissen followed with 14 points and sophomore guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) added 11 points off the bench.

Anthony led all scorers with 23 points for SMU, which entered the night shooting 38.3 percent (75-196) and 23.3 percent (20-86) from three-point through the first three games. The home team finished 12-for-27 (44.4 percent) from behind the arc and 43.6 percent (24-for-55) overall.

SJU out-rebounded Saint Mary's 38-25 and went 21-for-26 from the free-throw line. The Johnnies were in the bonus for the game's final 9:27.

SERIES HISTORY: The Johnnies are 93-21 against the Cardinals since the 1964-65 season, including a 56-1 record in Collegeville. SJU has won each of the last 28 meetings overall and 53 straight at home (49-0 in the Warner Palaestra). The last time Saint Mary's defeated SJU in Collegeville occurred Jan. 31, 1968, when the Johnnies played in the Old Gym (Guild Hall).