Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 21 Saint John's shot a blistering 66.7 percent (16-for-24) from the field in the second half in a 79-61 win over Hamline on Saturday, Jan. 4, in Sexton Arena.

The Johnnies (11-2, 4-0 MIAC) finished at 55.6 percent (30-for-54) for the game, including a 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) performance from behind the arc to extend their win streak to seven games.

Hamline (6-7, 2-2 MIAC) made its first two shots of the game, a pair of three-pointers, to gain a quick 6-0 lead as SJU missed its first four attempts from the field. The home team, however, made 13 of its next 18 shots (72.2 percent), including a 5-for-7 clip (71.4 percent) from three-point, and the Pipers went 3-for-15 (0-for-4 from deep) with three turnovers as SJU built a 31-14 lead with 7:06 left in the first half. Senior guard Blake Berg (West Fargo, N.D./Sheyenne) scored SJU's first 10 points.

HU closed the first half with an 8-2 run, including the last six points, to cut the Johnnies' lead to 10 (35-25) at the break.

The Johnnies answered the Pipers for the first four minutes of the second half and kept its lead to double digits for the remainder of the game. The margin reached its highest point at 21 (73-52, 75-54) twice under five minutes to play.

Berg led all scorers with 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting in 31 minutes of play. He also chipped in three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Senior wing Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) followed with 17 points on a 7-for-10 showing from the floor, including a perfect 3-for-3 mark from three-point land, with a team-high five rebounds in 26 minutes.

Senior guard Luke Healy (Hudson, Wis.) was the third Johnnie in double figures with 13 points in 16 minutes off the bench. He also added two rebounds and two steals.

Bradley Cimperman led the Pipers with 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting and six rebounds. HU shot 36 percent (9-for-25) from the field in the first half, including a 4-for-13 showing inside the three-point arc, and finished at 44.2 percent (23-for-52) overall.

The Johnnies play host to Bethel (9-3, 3-0 MIAC) for a 7 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday, Jan. 8, in Collegeville.