Box Score

ST. PETER, Minn. – Saint John's basketball overcame a season-high 21 turnovers by shooting 59.1 percent (26-for-44) from the field in a 66-64 win at Gustavus Adolphus on Saturday, Feb. 10.

A layup from senior post Connor Schwob (Waconia, Minn.) gave SJU (19-5, 17-2 MIAC) a 61-55 lead with 5:42 remaining in the game, but the visitors scored only five points – all by senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) – the rest of the way. A traditional three-point play from Berg made it 64-58 with 2:10 on the clock but back-to-back baskets from GAC (12-10, 11-6 MIAC) cut the lead to two. Berg and the Gusties' Wyatt Olson exchanged buckets in the paint before the Johnnies' 21st turnover gave the home team the final possession of regulation with 6.4 seconds left. Adam Biewen's contested, three-point attempt hit the backboard and off the iron to seal the road win for SJU.

The Johnnies shot an impressive 73.7 percent (14-for-19) from the floor in the game's first 20 minutes but only took a 40-34 lead into the break thanks to a late three-pointer by GAC and 11 turnovers. SJU entered the game seventh in NCAA Division III in fewest turnovers per game at 9.5.

Berg led SJU with 18 points on 8-for-10 shooting, while senior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) followed with 14 points and five rebounds. The 14 points enabled Thissen to pass Tom Grudnowski '72 (1,217) for 16th on SJU's all-time scoring list with 1,222.

Sophomore guard Kyle Johnson (Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle) was the third Johnnie in double figures with 10 points off the bench.

SJU outrebounded GAC, 24-22, and finished at 50 percent (5-for-10) from three-point range and 9-for-11 (81.8 percent) from the charity stripe in the victory. The Johnnies took the court Saturday as the Division III leader in shooting percentage (.512) and three-point percentage (.412), and third in free-throw percentage (.807).

Spencer Swanson fell a rebound shy of a double-double with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds for the Gusties. GAC finished at 40 percent (22-for-55) from the field, including a season-low 17.6 percent (3-for-17) from behind the three-point arc. The home team scored 19 points off the Johnnies' 21 turnovers, but SJU countered with 15 points off the 11 Gustie miscues.

SJU has now won each of the last 15 meetings against Gustavus overall, including seven-straight at Gus Young Court.

The Johnnies end their regular-season schedule by hosting Bethel (12-11, 9-9 MIAC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Sexton Arena.