Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – No. 15 Saint John's made 70 percent (42-for-60) of its shots in a 96-70 win over Bethel – its eighth-straight victory – on Wednesday, Jan. 8 in Sexton Arena.
SJU (12-2, 5-0 MIAC) missed nine shots, both inside (32-for-41) and outside (10-for-19) the arc, and out-scored the Royals (9-4, 3-1 MIAC) 61-23 off the bench.
The .700 field-goal percentage was the Johnnies' highest since their program record of 70.1 percent (47-for-67) recorded on Jan. 17, 2018, at Macalester (a 133-80 win).
Although SJU led Wednesday's game by as much as 33 (83-50) with 7:31 remaining, the contest's first 12 minutes were back-and-forth and had a 22-22 score with 8:28 remaining. BU led by six (20-14) with 11:06 on the clock, but the home team made 15 of its final 19 shots (3-for-4 from three-point) to close the first half with a 33-8 run for a 47-28 halftime advantage. The Johnnies finished at 73.3 percent (22-for-30) from the field in the first 20 minutes.
The Royals opened the second half with an 8-4 run, but the Johnnies rattled off 13-straight points in an eventual 17-2 run to gain a 30-point lead (68-38) with 12:47 left.
Senior guard
Luke Healy (Hudson, Wis.) led all scorers with a career-high 18 points, on 8-for-9 shooting, in 15:35 off the bench.
Senior post
Luke Budzyn (St. Paul, Minn./East Ridge) and senior wing
Griffin Rushin (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) added 12 points apiece off the bench. Budzyn went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, including three dunks, and tied for the team lead with five rebounds, while Rushin added four boards and two blocks.
Senior wing
Ryan Thissen (Rosemount, Minn./Eastview) was the fourth Johnnie in double figures with 10 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 23:29 played.
Nick Burke and Payton Thomsen led BU with 12 points each. The Royals finished at 41.2 percent (28-for-68) for the game, but just 21.9 percent (7-for-32) from behind the arc.
The Johnnies travel to face Concordia for a 5:30 p.m. game next Wednesday, Jan. 15, in Moorhead.
