Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's basketball inched closer to the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in next week's six-team MIAC Playoffs with a 69-67 win over Macalester on Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Sexton Arena.

SJU (15-9, 12-7 MIAC) can clinch the No. 2 seed three different ways this Saturday, Feb. 18: a win in the regular-season finale at Bethel (9-15, 7-12 MIAC), a Macalester (15-9, 11-8 MIAC) win at Augsburg, or a Saint Mary's (15-9, 11-8 MIAC) home loss to Gustavus Adolphus. The Johnnies own the head-to-head tie-breaker over Macalester and in the event of a three-way tie with Mac and SMU, but not in a direct tie with the Cardinals due to their win over Carleton on Dec. 3.

The Johnnies trailed Mac by one (66-65) with 1:37 remaining, but sophomore guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) was fouled on the ensuing possession and made both free throws. The home team was in the double bonus with 4:48 remaining as the Scots were whistled for 15 fouls in the second half (just three in the first half).

Macalester's Caleb Williams missed a three-pointer and Vaughn was fouled after grabbing the defensive rebound. He made one of two from the foul line and Williams matched him to keep the Johnnies' lead at one (68-67). Junior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) grabbed a crucial offensive rebound on the other end and Vaughn was fouled, but again made just one of two to give SJU a 69-67 advantage with 12 seconds left. He entered the game as a career 87.2-percent free-throw shooter (90.9 percent this season). 



Williams' potential game-tying shot from roughly eight feet was blocked by Berg and senior post Mitchell Plombon (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) grabbed the board to seal the win.

Junior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) led SJU with 19 points and Vaughn added 16.

The Johnnies shot just 40.7 percent (22-for-54) from the field, including 27.3 percent (6-for-22) from three-point range. The home team went 17-for-20 (85 percent) at the charity stripe in the second half and finished at 19-for-22 (86.4 percent) for the game. SJU entered the night fourth in NCAA Division III in shooting percentage (.500). 

Williams led all scorers with 29 points, 18 of which came in the second half, for Macalester. The Scots shot 57.5 percent (15-for-26) in the first half for a 38-34 lead at the break, but made only 33.3 percent (9-for-27) of their shots after intermission.

SJU has now won 32 of the last 34 meetings against the Scots in Sexton Arena and holds an 89-30 record in the series since the 1964-65 season (48-11 record in Collegeville). 

The Johnnies wrap up the regular-season schedule with a 1 p.m. tip-off at Bethel (9-15, 7-12 MIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Arden Hills.