Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball shot 62.7 percent (37-for-59) from the field, including a blistering 67.7 percent (21-for-31) in the second half, in an 83-69 victory over Bethel on Saturday, Jan. 14, in Sexton Arena.
SJU (10-4, 7-2 MIAC) scored 64 of its 83 points in the paint – a 64-34 margin - and 11 Johnnies registered a point in the win.
The Royals (4-11, 2-8 MIAC) made their first four shots of the game to gain a quick 10-5 lead, but made 38.5 percent (10-for-26) the rest of the period. BU kept it close, however, despite SJU's .571 shooting percentage (16-for-28) in the first half. The visitors held slim scoring margins off turnovers (5-2) and second-chance points (3-0), and Joey Kidder drained a three-pointer just before the shot clock expired to cut the deficit to 34-33 at the break. Kidder ended the first half with 15 points and led BU with 21 for the game.
The Johnnies opened the second half with a 7-1 run and built a double-digit lead for good with a 9-0 advantage halfway through the frame.
Senior post
Mitchell Plombon (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) led all scorers with 22 points and fell one rebound shy of his third-straight double-double. Fourteen of his 22 points came in the second half. The 20-point game was his second-consecutive, third of the season and fourth of his career.
Junior guard
Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) added 14 points, including 11 after halftime, and five assists, while junior wing
Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) returned to the lineup after missing the first two games of 2023 due to illness and tallied 14 points and five boards.
Senior post
Carson Schoeller (Prior Lake, Minn.) also returned to the court after sitting out Wednesday's overtime win over Concordia and posted eight points in 13 minutes off the bench.
The Johnnies totaled 20 assists on the 37 made field goals, led by sophomore guard
Zach Longueville's (Eagan, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) six. He leads the team with 48, including 40 over his last nine games, and boasts a MIAC-best 3.2 assist/turnover ratio this season.
SJU wraps up its three-game homestand against Carleton (12-2, 7-2 MIAC) - a battle for first place in the conference standings - at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in Collegeville.
