Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 25 Saint John's basketball overcame a cold night from the floor to post a 67-57 non-conference win over Buena Vista (Iowa) on Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Sexton Arena.
The Johnnies (2-1 overall) shot just 37.5 percent (21-for-56) from the field, including an uncharacteristic 25 percent (5-for-20) from three-point range, but out-rebounded the Beavers (2-1 overall) 44-36 and racked up scoring advantages off turnovers (14-8) and second-chance points (14-6).
SJU held BVU to 33.9 percent (19-for-56) overall, including 25.8 percent (8-for-31) in the second half, and 20.8 percent (5-for-24) from behind the arc (2-for-13 in the second half).
Sophomore guard
Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) led all scorers with 18 points, while senior post
Mitchell Plombon (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) and junior wing
Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) added a double-double each. Plombon registered 16 points and 13 rebounds for his fourth collegiate double-double, while Thissen collected 15 points, 11 boards and four assists for his second. Both snagged three steals apiece.
The Beavers led by seven (26-19) with 3:22 left in the first half, but SJU made three of its next four shots and drained its final six free-throw attempts to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room.
The home team built a seven-point lead of its own (43-36) with 12:42 remaining, though BVU chipped the deficit to one (48-47) with 7:39 left. SJU scored the next seven points and secured a five-point cushion or more the rest of the way. The Johnnies closed the contest with seven of the game's final 10 points.
Junior guard
Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) was the fourth Johnnie in double figures with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists off the bench.
Ryan Mendoza led BVU with 13 points off the bench. SJU held the Beavers' biggest offensive threat, Zane Neubaum (27 ppg. and a .536 shooting percentage through the season's first two games), to 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting (1-for-8 from three-point).
The Johnnies open the conference schedule against St. Olaf (2-0 overall) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, in Northfield.
