Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Saint John's basketball closed the month of January with an 81-67 win at Augsburg on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Si Melby Hall.

The win clinched the 30th appearance in the MIAC Playoffs (est. 1984-85) and 12th-consecutive for league-leading SJU (16-4, 14-1 MIAC), which shot 52.5 percent (32-for-61) from the field, including 26-for-44 (59.1 percent) inside the three-point arc.

The Johnnies built a 23-8 lead in the game's first 9:18 and shot 58.1 percent (18-for-31) from the floor to take an eventual 41-29 lead into halftime. The Auggies (7-12, 5-9 MIAC) cut their deficit to as little as seven on four occasions in the second half, the last occurring with 10:03 to play. SJU, however, responded with a 9-0 run and the lead never dipped below 13 the rest of the way.

Junior post Luke Budzyn (St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge) led SJU with a career-high 23 points, on 9-for-11 shooting, and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. Five of the nine made field goals were dunks for Budzyn, who also blocked two shots.

Senior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) followed with 17 points, six rebounds and a season-high five assists. The 17 points enabled Thissen to break his tie with Tom Melancon '68 and pass former teammate Zach Hanson '21 for 17th on SJU's all-time scoring list with 1,183 in his career. Tom Grudnowski '72 is next in 16th with 1,217 points.

Senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) collected 16 points and seven rebounds, while junior guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.) was the fourth Johnnie in double figures with 12 points thanks to a 4-for-9 showing from behind the arc. The four treys broke Vaughn's tie with Larry Bassett '92 for sole possession of third place on SJU's all-time list with 184. Patrick Strom '18 is second with 232 three-pointers.

Trent Gomez led Augsburg with 16 points and a 4-for-4 performance from long range. 

SJU recorded a 42-28 advantage in rebounds, but both teams struggled from the free-throw line. The Johnnies entered the game fourth in NCAA Division III in free-throw percentage at .810 (as well as No. 1 in shooting percentage at .509) but finished at a season-low 64.7 percent (11-for-17) Wednesday night. The Auggies, meanwhile, were just 5-for-14 (35.7 percent) at the charity stripe.

The Johnnies open a three-game homestand by hosting St. Scholastica (2-17, 1-13 MIAC) for Alumni/Senior Day at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, in Sexton Arena.