Carson Schoeller_Wade Gardner
Senior post Carson Schoeller, pictured from earlier this season in Collegeville, posted his second-straight double-double in the loss (image courtesy of Wade Gardner, D3photography.com).
57
Saint John's Univ. SJU 8-4, 5-2 MIAC
69
Winner Saint Mary's Univ. SMU 7-5, 3-4 MIAC
Saint John's Univ. SJU
8-4, 5-2 MIAC
57
Final
69
Saint Mary's Univ. SMU
7-5, 3-4 MIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint John's Univ. SJU 30 27 57
Saint Mary's Univ. SMU 21 48 69

Game Recap: Basketball |

Second-Half Slump Stings SJU at Saint Mary's


Box Score

WINONA, Minn. – Saint John's basketball saw its 29-game win streak over Saint Mary's end with a 69-57 loss to the Cardinals on Saturday, Jan. 7, in Winona.

SMU (7-5, 3-4 MIAC) shot 62.5 percent - both overall (15-for-24) and from three-point range (5-for-8) - to outscore the Johnnies by 21 (48-27) in the second half and held the visitors to two points over the final 4:16. SJU shot only 33.3 percent (8-for-24), including a 2-for-12 showing from behind the arc, after halftime and ended the game with a season-high 19 turnovers (the most since Nov. 16, 2018 at Wisconsin-Whitewater, 22). The Cardinals scored 20 points off the 19 SJU miscues, including 13 off the eight turnovers in the second half.

SJU (8-4, 5-2 MIAC) was without its leading scorer (17.8 ppg.) and top playmaker (42 assists) - junior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) - due to illness.

The Johnnies ended the first half with a 21-0 run over the final 9:43 to take a 30-21 lead into the break. The Cardinals started the second half with a 9-1 run but did not gain their first lead of the second half, 49-47, with 9:16 to play. SJU trailed by three (58-55) with 4:16 remaining, but the home team closed the game with an 11-2 run.

Senior post Carson Schoeller (Prior Lake, Minn.) led SJU with 16 points, thanks in large part to a 4-for-5 performance from behind the arc, and 11 rebounds for his second-consecutive double-double and fourth of his career.

Sophomore guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) was the other Johnnie in double figures in scoring with 15 points. SJU entered the game 10th in NCAA Division III in shooting percentage (.501) and finished at 40.5 percent (17-for-42). 

Raheem Anthony led the Cardinals with 32 points, including 23 in the second half, as well as 10 rebounds and five steals. The top three-point shooting team in Division III at 43.3 percent (106-for-245), Saint Mary's ended at 46.2 percent (24-for-52) overall and an even 50 percent (7-for-14) from long range.

The Johnnies begin a three-game homestand with a 7 p.m. tip-off against Concordia (5-7, 3-4 MIAC) on Wednesday, Jan. 11, in Sexton Arena.


 
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