Ryan Thissen Free Throw_Graham Miller
Senior wing Ryan Thissen (image courtesy of Graham Miller)
78
Winner Saint John's Univ. SJU 15-2, 8-0 MIAC
69
Augsburg University AUG 8-9, 4-4 MIAC
Winner
Saint John's Univ. SJU
15-2, 8-0 MIAC
78
Final
69
Augsburg University AUG
8-9, 4-4 MIAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint John's Univ. SJU 49 29 78
Augsburg University AUG 31 38 69

Game Recap: Basketball | | Ryan Klinkner, SJU Athletic Media Relations Director

No. 12 SJU Rides Big First Half to 78-69 Win at Augsburg


Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 12 Saint John's earned a 78-69 road win, its 11th-straight victory, at Augsburg on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Si Melby Hall.

The Johnnies (15-2, 8-0 MIAC) scored the game's first 12 points and led 23-8 before the Auggies (8-9, 4-4 MIAC) went on a 15-2 run to cut their deficit to two (25-23) with 8:58 left before the break. SJU, however, closed the first half with a 24-8 run for a 49-31 halftime lead. The visitors shot 64.3 percent (18-for-28) from the field, including 6-for-11 (54.5 percent) from three-point range, in the first 20 minutes.

SJU led by as much as 19 (61-42) with 13:17 to play and by 16 (70-54) with 8:13 left, but did not score until senior Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) made a jumper with 53 seconds on the clock. Augsburg, meanwhile, cut the Johnnies' lead to as little as seven but SJU went 6-for-7 at the free-throw line the rest of the way to seal the win.

Thissen tied a season high with 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his second-consecutive double-double. He scored the game's first basket, which enabled him to pass Bill Sexton '55  (1,480) for fifth on SJU's all-time scoring list. He also climbed past David Stokman '19 (1,492) later in the first half and is now fourth with 1,506 career points. Troy Bigalke '01 is third with 1,568 points.

Junior guard Kyle Johnson (Prior Lake, Minn./DeLaSalle) made his first collegiate start in place of senior guard Kooper Vaughn (St. Charles, Minn.), who missed the game due to injury, and made a career-high five three-pointers (5-for-10) with 19 points.

Senior post Luke Budzyn (St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge) added 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks off the bench for SJU, which shot 34.6 percent (9-for-26) in the second half to finish at an even 50 percent (27-for-54) for the game.

Will Blascziek led the Auggies with 18 points. The home team shot 38.2 percent (26-for-68) from the field and 25.9 percent (7-for-27) from behind the arc.

The Johnnies visit St. Olaf for a 7:30 p.m. game next Wednesday, Jan. 29, in Northfield.


 
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